Susan Harrell
Position:
Spanish / French - Foreign Language
Education:
Minor: Composite Social Studies and Education
Texas Teaching Certification: French and Spanish, all levels
MED - The University of Texas at Austin [4.0 GPA] Masters in Education - Curriculum and Instruction
Background:
Upon leaving Baylor, I began teaching an interesting combination of World History, Spanish and French. After a few years in the classroom, I was invited to join the staff of the Division of Extension of the University of Texas at Austin. As a member of the division’s training staff, I was privileged to work with public school teachers throughout the state. I remained in Austin to complete my master’s degree before returning to work in schools
At that point, my family relocated to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and I left the teaching profession. During a ten-year interruption to my teaching career, I worked in the non-profit community in Dallas both as a staff member and a volunteer. I also worked in the field of public relations and advertising, initially for an existing firm, and finally, establishing and operating my own agency. The business required a good deal of travel, which was not best for my family, and I accepted an offer to return to teaching in Ft. Worth ISD. I came to Colleyville Heritage in the fall of 2001 following nine years in Keller ISD, serving most recently at Fossil Ridge High School.
Educational Philosophy:
During 23 years of teaching in public schools, I have been continually reminded that our mission is to prepare our students for life in a competitive and demanding “real” world. My goal is to encourage my students to become the very best that each of them can become in all respects – as students, as speakers and writers of French and Spanish, and as responsible, competent workers in their future careers.
Background:
Other languages are terrific tools for pursuing one’s personal interests with a wider circle of people and a greater variety of sources of information. My own interests include astronomy, gardening, computing, fitness, music, woodworking, travel, and reading an eclectic range of books. [I confess that I listen to recorded books much more than I actually “ read.”] The world is a much more interesting place when one can surf websites written in three different languages {not to mention instruction manuals for “some assembly required” items}!