New Staff Interviews

Kara Waters. Photo by Broadside Staff

Kara Waters, Art Department – Where did you grow up, and what was high school like for you?            I grew up in Hanover, went to HHS; I spent all my time in the Art Department. – Where did you work before you came to HHS?           Chesapeake High School in Pasadena, MD (just south of Baltimore City). – If you were working at another school, how was it different/similar from/to HHS?         My old school was very structured and much larger than HHS. – What classes do you teach here?         Design and Photography. – What do you like about teaching at HHS?         The students are bright and work hard. – What is something that your students might not know about you?         I worked at the SPCA for a while in college and even considered going into animal behavior. – If you could teach something else besides what you currently teach, what would it be?         Elementary school.

Subhadra Srinivasan. Photo by Broadside Staff.

Subhadra Srinivasan

Jarrod Shaheen. Photo by Broadside Staff.

– Where did you grow up, and what was high school like for you?

I am originally from Massachusetts.  High school was an overall good experience for me…I have always enjoyed studying and learning, especially Spanish and mathematics.  I had an outstanding Spanish teacher and an outstanding mathematics teacher, both of whom retired soon after I had them as teachers and whom I count as friends, not to mention role models for my own teaching practice.  I consistently use their strategies and tricks.  Some things just stand the test of time.

– Where did you work before you came to HHS?

I worked at LHS as both a Spanish and a mathematics teacher, served on various hiring and scheduling committees, informally mentored various faculty members, and was the Coach of the Intermediate Math Team.

 – How was it different/similar from/to HHS?

Things are much more similar than they are different, despite what people would like to envision, given the supposed “rivalry”…I am happy to see that even after changing schools I continue having many students who are serious about their studies and enjoy learning.  I have found the faculty in both buildings to be quite welcoming and supportive and the students in both buildings to be generally respectful and willing to work hard.

 – What classes do you teach here?

This year I am teaching Spanish I and Spanish III (H).  I am also Coach of the Intermediate Math Team.

 – What do you like about teaching at HHS?

The schedule here is awesome…the lack of bells allows me to start and end class at natural times, and that students are trusted not to raise a ruckus in the hallways if I let them leave early.  (Note to students: Class starts and ends when the teacher states, not when you feel like standing up and packing up your backpack while the teacher is still talking!)

  – What is something that your students might not know about you?

I really enjoy playing tennis.  For me, enjoyment does not have talent as a prerequisite, however.

  – If you could teach something else besides what you currently teach, what would it be?

I obviously like Spanish and mathematics, but I would love to teach chemistry.  I’m rusty by now, but it’s fascinating, it’s mathematical, and you get to do really cool experiments with outcomes that you can easily explain with chemical equations.  It was one of my favorite classes in high school (had a great teacher for two years, obviously), I was good at it, and I really enjoyed it.

Warren Tucker

Tucker Warren. Photo by Broadside Staff.

– Where did you grow up, and what was high school like for you?

——
Swati Jogdand

Swati Jogdand. Photo by Broadside Staff.

– Where did you grow up, and what was high school like for you?
I grew up in Pune, India, which is a large city near Mumbai. Pune is an historical city, with many monuments well preserved. It is known for having a good climate, for being close to Mumbai which is the economic capital of India, and for being an educational hub. The University of Pune is renowned for its excellence. I received a B.S. in chemistry there followed by an M.S. in Human Resource Management. Before that, I went to a high school, for girls only; it was totally different from HHS, especially when looking at the resources and opportunities students get here. Also, we used to follow what the teacher said. She always had the final word. There were no re-takes for exams. We had a big library with an extensive reference section, but we didn’t have much technology then. That was before the year 2000. After Y2K, India was on the map for technology and computers so things have changed a lot in India since then.
– Where did you work before you came to HHS?
I was a substitute at Lebanon High School. It’s similar to Hanover High School in many ways.
– And then what are your plans for the future?
I’m waiting to get my Employment Authorization and then my Green Card. I’d like to get a job using my management skills.
– What classes do you teach here?
I am in Special Ed, where I’m an Educational Assistant.
– What do you like about teaching at HHS? It’s a very pleasant place to work. I love my colleagues.
– What is something that your students might not know about you?
In my M.S. I graduated third place out of many thousands at my university. Also, in school I played field hockey, which we call India’s national game, and represented my State of Maharashtra three years in the Indian national competitions. What else? I studied Hindustani vocal music, learning from a renowned vocalist in Massachusetts. I’ve done many stage performances, including at the annual Divali Festival of Lights at Dartmouth in the Fall.
– If you could teach something else besides what you currently teach, what would it be?
Math. My job now is causing me to remember that I love math.