Harmon Teacher: Penelope Kysiak
Q: How long have you been teaching?
A: “I’ve been teaching for 32 years, but TRS (Texas Retirement System) recognizes it as 30 years because I took two years out of my retirement. I have actually taught for 32 years.”
Q: What grade and what subject do you teach?
A: “I teach Spanish and right now I teach 9th and 10th grade. I’ve taught anywhere from 7th all the way to 12th grade.”
Q: What is your favorite memory as a teacher?
A: “There are so many memories, but I think I’m always going to remember the cultural aspect of Spanish. We do a lot of cultural activities in my class, from celebrating Dia de los Muertos and Cinco de Mayo, I think those are probably my fondest memories.”
Q: Tell me what you enjoyed most about teaching.
A: “Pretty much just getting to know the kids, I think that’s really the most enjoyable thing. I think we learn from each other, they learn academically, but we also learn from them, as far as developing relationships and mentoring the kids. Those things are very important, and probably what I have enjoyed the most, just knowing people independently in a classroom.”
Q: Why are you retiring?
A: “It’s been a long time, this has been a long road. After 32 years I think it’s time for me to retire and move one to other things.”
Q: Tell me the steps you took to begin your teaching career.
A: “Well I went to Hardin Simmons University, then I went into insurance, and then after that I went to University of Texas and got my teaching certification. From there I became a teacher.”
Q: What are your plans for after retirement?
A: “I’m actually going to be working at the federal parks, I’m going to YellowStone this summer. I worked for Mount Rushmore the past two summers and this summer I’m going to YellowStone. I’ll be leaving June 1 and will probably be there for the season, which is about 3-6 months.”
Q: What inspired you to become a teacher?
A: “Well I was a lifeguard and I taught kids how to swim, so being around kids all the time, it just became a natural thing that I was around kids a lot, so I went into the teaching field. I think that definitely inspired me a little bit.”
Q: How do you hope students will remember you?
A: “As somebody that was encouraging and caring and funny. We had some good laughs in the classroom. I hope that is remembered.”