With a passion for language and a classroom built on connection and confidence, Carolyn Sanchez has left a lasting impact on her students as a Spanish teacher. After more than three decades in education, including 25 years at her current school and six years teaching internationally, Sanchez will be retiring at the end of the school year, closing a chapter defined by curiosity, culture and meaningful relationships.
Sanchez’s journey into teaching didn’t begin with a clear plan. After graduating from college, she traveled to Japan, where she taught English to high school students, helping demonstrate correct pronunciation and usage of English. That experience shaped her future in unexpected ways.
“After college, I went to Japan and I kind of just loved it. I loved interacting with the kids,” Sanchez said. “When I came back, I got my degree in English. I taught English for a while, and I got a job teaching Spanish. It was just more fun.”
Beyond grammar and conversation, Sanchez has always emphasized the deeper value of learning a language, which is understanding people and cultures.
“I think language is more than just what you type into Google,” Sanchez said. “It’s understanding the culture, and if we can understand more languages, we can understand more people. It bridges the gap and allows you access to so much more.”
In her classroom, students are encouraged to participate, take risks and learn from mistakes. Sophomore Jimmy Torres describes the environment as both welcoming and motivating.
“Being in Ms. Sanchez’s class is both fun and challenging in a good way,” Torres said. “She creates an environment where you feel comfortable participating, even if you’re not confident in your Spanish. At the same time, she pushes you to improve and actually learn the language instead of just memorizing things.”
Senior Jesli Mathew reflects on how Sanchez’s teaching style, especially her use of partner work, helped students learn from one another.
“We would always work with partners, and it helped me interact with people and learn new things,” Mathew said. “I got to understand different perspectives, and I learned a lot of vocabulary over the years.”
Students say that the message has stayed with them. Whether through class conversations, activities or even watching shows together, Sanchez created a space where learning felt engaging and meaningful.
“One of my favorite memories is when we would do class activities where everyone had to participate in Spanish,” Torres said. “Even though it was sometimes nerve-wracking, it ended up being really fun.”
Looking ahead, Sanchez is excited for what comes next. While she looks forward to slowing down, she also plans to continue learning new languages.
“I’m looking forward to relaxing, but I’m also looking forward to traveling,” Sanchez said. “I want to try to learn functional Italian and French.”
After years of helping students find their voices in a new language, Sanchez leaves behind more than just lessons in Spanish. She leaves behind confidence, curiosity and a deeper understanding of the world for the many students she has taught.
