“Antes de conocerte, no podía entender ni una palabra.” “Understand? Me neither until I met Profe K,” shared Principal Chase. Principal Chase has nominated Profe K-Monica Kaczynski for this month’s Staff Recognition Highlight.
Monica Kaczynski has a plethora of experience at Faith Lutheran School in Bay City, Peace Lutheran School in Saginaw, St. Peter Lutheran School in Hemlock, and Valley Lutheran High School in Saginaw. Most of that time she was a shared-time traveling teacher for Carrollton School District. This is her first year at Hemlock Middle School.
Currently, Profe K teaches 8th grade Spanish 1, Exploratory Spanish for grades 6th and 7th, and 7th Grade Careers. In the past, she has taught Elementary Spanish (Pre-K through 8th) and High School Spanish 1 and 2. Mrs. Kaczynski is a native Spanish speaker and was born in Lima, Perú.
Teaching is Profe K’s second career. Her first career started in Business Management. She worked in insurance and the financial sector for many years. After taking a few years off when her kids were little, she started volunteering as a Spanish teacher at their elementary school. It was then that she realized that she was meant to be a Spanish teacher.
“My proudest moment was finishing my certification coursework at SVSU,” Kaczynski said with a smile, “with straight A’s, and as the oldest student in my graduating class!”
Mrs. Kaczynski is married to her husband Alan and has two children. Her daughter, Angela, is 22 and is studying to be an elementary teacher at Grand Valley State University. Her son Samuel is a Senior in high school and hopes to study finance and marketing upon graduation.
Middle School Principal Chase said, "We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated teacher on our staff. Mrs. Kaczynski has a skill set that sets her a cut above. Her attention to EACH student is just one of the things that makes her a fantastic educator!”
Mrs. Kaczynski loves reading, traveling, gardening, and decorating sugar cookies! Her go-to favorite stress reliever… decorating cookies while listening to audiobooks. Her favorite Spanish author is Isabel Allende, and her favorite English author is John Steinbeck. “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” by Eleanor Roosevelt is her favorite quote. Profe K says, “Nothing can boost your self-confidence more than having conquered your own fears.” She loves to travel! She has been to 13 world countries and visited Machu Picchu (the ancient city of the Incas in her native Perú) four times. She has also visited 27 of the 50 states in the US.
I guess the only thing left to say is “Bienvenida al equipo, Profe K., eres la mejor!” We appreciate you and you really are the best!