By August Kissel and Julia Skeval
Staff Writers
Ever wonder what happens to a teacher when they disappear from the classroom? Well the case of the disappearances from the foreign language department have been solved.
Spanish and French teacher Hank Cline has come back after being on a “special assignment” last year as an assistant principal. Mr. Cline’s duties as assistant principal were based around his supervision of the students. He spent his day working with students, teachers, and faculty members. He was also in charge of the Special Education department in the high school.
Why did Mr. Cline return to teaching and decline another year of being an assistant principal? “I returned to the classroom because of all the positive feedback I received about me being a teacher from my former students” Mr. Cline said. “I chose to return because I missed the creativity of my students, and being able to not only teach them, but learn with them as well.”
As a teacher, he gets to promote what he loves doing, teaching Spanish and French. Laura Wengert, a junior at J-DHS, who had Mr. Cline in ninth grade, says she thinks “He did a great job as the assistant principal, but I’m glad he is back to teaching because he was a great teacher and he helped me to learn a lot.”
But Mr. Cline isn’t the only Spanish teacher who wasn’t teaching Spanish last year.
Maria DeJesus has returned to teaching Spanish 3, and 4, which is also known as Culture and Conversation. She took about seven months off, starting in December of 2011, after giving birth to her daughter, Mya. Sra. DeJesus said her daughter is very well, and now she is crawling and keeping her busy. Sra. DeJesus said her older daughter has been a great big sister and helper. However, now Sra. DeJesus is super busy. “While at work and at home there is no time for anything,” she said, “(But) it’s nice to have a paycheck again.”
Sra. DeJesus said she returned to teaching because “I missed being in the classroom.” She said it was nice to be fulfilled in other ways (by being a teacher), instead of just being a mom. Sophmore Saqif Badruddin who had Sra. DeJesus last year and this year said “She is a great teacher. She is cool and very nice.”
Students are glad she is back, but the transition has not been easy. “I’m still adjusting,” said Sra. DeJesus, “but Mrs. Wisnieski, who had a child as well, came back this year to teaching and we give each other advice about how to deal with coming back to work while making time for family.”
Kristine Wisnieski took two years off after having her 2 year old daughter, Chloe. She spent time with Chloe and son Cooper, who is 4 years old, during her time off. She said she was fortunate enough to be able to take time off just to spend with her children. Mrs. Wisnieski said her kids are great, depending on the day. “It wasn’t easy going back to work because it was hard when my daughter would cry when I would have to leave.”
Mrs. Wisnieski decided to go back to work because her time being a stay at home mom was over. “I was only given a maximum of two years off, so it was time to come back.” Despite the two years being over, she said “I was ready to come back to being a teacher.” She said she loves her kids, but she also loves her job. However, when it was time to start working again, it was difficult, said Mrs. Wisnieski, because “the balance between working and family is hard.” But she also said she is thankful for the many other teachers who have children who have been very supportive, which makes the high school a great place to work.
Mrs. Wisnieski teaches English to students who come from different countries. When those students come to this school, they must take an entrance exam she said. Depending on their score, they may or may not need E.S.L., but if they do they come to Mrs. Wisnieski. Luis Fonseca, a student of Mrs. Wisnieski said “She is nice, very encouraging and always wants you to do your best.”