To kick off our Meet the Staff segment, we will introduce our club's sponsor Mrs. DiChiara! You may know her as the Pre-AP English 10 teacher, but here is some fun information you didn't know:
What's your favorite movie? Why is it your favorite? Hands down Gone With The Wind. I love Scarlett O'Hara.
What made you want to become a teacher? I always played school as a little girl. I had the chalkboard; I made tests to fill out, and I graded them. I played the entire school day. I went from subject to subject, and I did that until seventh grade. When I played with friends, I was always the teacher. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.
What are some of your pet peeves? If students ask me if we did anything when they were absent- that I cannot stand. Or when students write in pencil. When my family texts me at 10am and asks for dinner like I don’t know.
Tells us about your kids. I have three girls; it was very rough when they were younger, but now its okay- they like each other now. I had three kids under four; it was kind of a blur. They are awesome, and we talk all the time. I have three precious grandsons. I have three daughters and three grandsons which is neat.
Do you have any pets? I do; I’m trying not to be ugly. I'm not a cat person. I'm not a dog person either, but I have a dog named Atticus. He's a Pomapoo. If anyone wants to take him, I will give him away for free.
What's the best part of teaching? Students, I love interacting with the students.
What's your least favorite part of teaching? Grading, grading, grading. Grading essays is what I would have to say.
What's your favorite food? Fried chicken. I love Lloyd's. It is the best fried chicken.
What do you do in your free time? Any hobbies? Oh gosh- that’s hard! I absolutely love to shop; it’s bad, but I love to find a good bargain. I love to play Words with Friends, and I guess we can put down reading. Also, I love cooking; I make great homemade Italian food. I can make cinnamon rolls from scratch. I make great fried chicken and gravy, but I don’t have time to make this all the time.
Do you have a favorite song? I do! I love Perfect by Ed Sheeran. It’s a great song. My all-time favorite song is “Living on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi.
Do you want to travel? I want to go to London- to the Globe Theatre and Shakespeare’s house.
Who is your favorite author? Do you have a favorite or least favorite genre? I do like Faulkner, but Steinbeck is great, too. I love Grapes of Wrath. My least favorite genre is fantasy because I like things I can relate to. I like things that could really happen.
What is your favorite and least favorite book to teach? I love teaching The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and my least favorite is The Scarlet Letter. I know it has good value and good parts to it, but it’s too tedious!
What is something many people don’t know about you? I taught biology; in fact, my first job was biology! I was the only one in my class with a major in biology and English.
