This year, Jesuit High School Sacramento welcomes Spanish Teacher Ms. Estela Heringer to its campus.

Although it’s her first year at Jesuit, she brings nearly a decade of teaching experience in a Jesuit environment. 

“This is my eighth year and I’ve taught Spanish in all levels,” Ms. Heringer said. “I was at Cristo Rey before coming here, and I love the religious component of it – being able to pray in the morning and doing examen in the afternoon.”

Department Chair of World Language Ms. Kristen Quillen believes that Ms. Heringer’s extensive experience will bring a new perspective into Spanish classes at Jesuit.

“She has experience teaching AP Spanish Literature at her other school, and here she’s teaching AP Spanish Language and Culture,” Ms. Quillen said. “I think that’s just going to really enhance [her class], that she has extra experience in teaching a different kind of an AP Spanish course.”

Assistant Principal for Student Life Ms. Sarah Ruano believes that Ms. Heringer’s wealth of experience mixed with her positive energy creates a healthy classroom environment.

“Students benefit from faculty who have depth of experience and who have an academic background in the subject matter that they teach, and of course enthusiasm for working with students,” Ms. Ruano said. “So I think that [her enthusiasm] will come through positively in the classroom experience.”

Throughout her years of teaching, Ms. Heringer has focused on setting up her students for success so they can continue learning Spanish.

“There’s a diverse group of learners in the classroom,” Ms. Heringer said. “That’s the challenge, as a teacher, to try to meet them where they’re at, where everybody’s at, and to help them get there without being discouraged, because it’s easy to get discouraged, especially in languages.”

With years of experience and a love for the classroom, Ms. Heringer’s experience will certainly benefit Jesuit’s Spanish department.

“We’re really fortunate to have new faculty members who have the kind of experience that she does and are excited about joining [their] department,” Ms. Ruano said.