Walking through the world language hallway, it is regular to see bright-colored decorations and welcoming smiles from teachers. However, one teacher has become a staple to this school who has a strong impact on her students: Spanish teacher Valerie Hacker.
Known for her small height, ginger pixie cut, and hamburger costume on Halloween, Hacker shows her students a welcoming classroom and relationship. Hacker teaches Spanish I and Spanish III Honors, but is always willing to help students she has or has not had, both in class and in life.
Hacker decided she wanted to be a teacher when she was in first grade, but did not decide to become a Spanish teacher until her sophomore year of college. During that year’s spring break, Hacker traveled to Spain with a friend and fell in love with the language and culture.
“I want everyone to feel comfortable in my class,” Hacker said. “I want everybody to feel like they can be the best person they can be in my class.”
Hacker tries to make her class as fun as possible while still ensuring that there is a lot of learning happening. She plays games for conjugating and memorizing vocabulary and also tries to start conversations between her students for real-life scenarios.
“My favorite activity is probably ‘super seis’,” junior Abigail McKoy said. “We play a lot of games in her class and she makes sure we are paying attention and learning.”
Though the games are the most enjoyable part for students, Hacker enjoys seeing the relationships her students form because of the conversations they have. She shares her instructions in Spanish, based on the level of class, to ensure full understanding.
Another activity is trying to explain a vocabulary word without using it and having a partner guess it. The goal is to form a connection with the person instead of needing a phone to know the exact word.
“The moment you take out your phone, you have just presented an obstacle between you and the other person,” Hacker said. “But if I can try to talk around the word with you, you are understanding me; you are reading my cues, my gestures, and my expressions.”
Hacker improves her students’ Spanish skills as they learn from each other in dialogues. She has also had a lasting impact on her students, as some come back for help or to talk after they finish her class.
“She cares more than just about the class and school; she actually cares about you,” senior Delaney Gross said.
Even students who she has never had recognize her in the hallways due to her recurring hamburger costume. Her daughter wore it for Halloween one year, and wanting to join the spirit, Hacker wore it one year. It has become a tradition.
“I wear it every year and it is super fun,” Hacker said. “I walk down the hall and kids I don’t even know smile or [ask] ‘Hey, can I take a picture with you?’”
Regardless of who, Hacker is always there to help a student, determined to make everyone feel safe to smile.
