With the start of a new school year, William Fremd High School is welcoming new teachers to join their staff. The Viking Logue interviewed math teacher Mike Constantino and world language teacher Maria Herrera to learn more about them and their experiences at Fremd.

Having grown up in Palatine, Constantino is a Fremd alum who graduated in 2017 and pursued a degree in education at Miami University. Before returning to Fremd, he taught math at Woodstock High School for two years. Constantino has always enjoyed playing and coaching sports, participating in football, basketball, and track during high school. Constantino now teaches Advanced Trig/Pre-Calc and Algebra 2 and is a part of the varsity football staff.

Herrera was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia and attended college there. After studying literature and Modern Languages, she worked as an English teacher for adults before moving to France and starting her master’s degree. Once COVID hit, Herrera moved to America with her husband. Since joining Fremd last December, Hererra has helped sponsor Model UN and the foreign exchange club. This year, she teaches ESL 3, ESL 4, and Spanish for Heritage Learners. 

What is your favorite childhood memory?

Constantino: I would definitely say the first time that I went to Six Flags. I had never been on a roller coaster in my life and then, all of a sudden, the last ride I go on is the American Eagle. I was so nervous to get on—my aunt had to drag me there—but then all I wanted was to go on it five more times.

Herrera: It might be a little cliche, but mine would be the first time I went to Disney. I was four and I vividly remember seeing Mickey Mouse and the princesses. I was with my cousins—they’re the same age as I am—and it was just very wholesome. It’s my first memory from my childhood.

What inspired you to become a teacher? Was it always something that you wanted to do?

C: When I walked into high school, I didn’t think I would be a math teacher. But I had always enjoyed math. I found myself helping a lot of my friends with math, and then I found myself looking up to four different math teachers. During my senior year, I interned with Mr. Goettsche and worked with Mr. Grattoni on resumes and college apps. Having role models I could look up to for help definitely set me on this path. 

H: I didn’t want to be a teacher when I started college—I wanted to be a writer. I was 18 when I had to do a teaching practice, and I loved it. It wasn’t what I was expecting—it was really rewarding. Once I started working as a teacher, I couldn’t see myself having an office job or doing something else. I do have other interests I would like to pursue in the future, but I love teaching. It’s fun. Even when it’s stressful, it’s really fun. 

How has your experience with Fremd been so far? What has been challenging and what has gone well?

C: It’s definitely been less of a transition for me, but it’s always difficult when you have to go behind the scenes and figure out the ins and outs of it all. But Fremd students are motivated and ask good questions, so they make the teaching even easier than it can be. And being able to work with the same people that originally inspired me to be a math teacher—it’s kind of like a dream come true. 

H: Since I didn’t go to high school in the United States, it’s really interesting to see how things are different here. The roles are different and the way kids are taught is different. When I was in high school, we didn’t have dances like prom or homecoming, and we never changed classrooms—it was the teachers who would change classrooms. Getting used to everything is, I think, the most challenging part. As for something that has gone well, I know the administration supports me. I know that if I need something, they’ll help me out. 

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

C: I think it’s the interaction with students every day. Math may not be everyone’s favorite subject, but you get the chance to interact with over a hundred high schoolers every day. You have no idea what they’re going to say, but at one point they’re just going to put a smile on your face and you hope that you can also put a smile on their face.

H: My students. We get to talk every day and share our experiences. Teaching languages allows me to explore different things. They all come from different places. We’re all immigrants—we all have shared experiences and we all come from different cultures. So I really liked that. And I just feel like I have great classes this year. 

What kind of person would you like your students to see you as?

C: I think the number one word I would say is approachable. Teachers are in a wonderful spot to impact students and be someone for students to talk to. Students go through eight hours a day, five days a week here, so they all need someone to talk to at some point.

H: I would like them to see me as their safe person. They can go to me to talk to me about anything they need, whether they’re struggling or having a nice day. I want them to trust me. I’ve always wanted them to see me as the “fun” teacher—I’m not putting up like an act. It’s just myself, so I want them to trust me and to be able to come to me with everything they need.