October’s Teacher Feature: Senora Santamaria
Evan Rosenau
This month’s teacher feature is Senora Santamaria, a new face to Hamilton. Senora is in her seventh year of teaching, her other six at Cedarburg High School. A UW-Eau Claire graduate, she has been married to her husband Rodrigo for just over 5 years. They live in Port Washington and travel to visit family in Mexico often. Senora enjoys all kinds of physical activity, baking, reading, and spending time with family, not to mention hosting people at her home! Adding to the fun, she and her husband converse in Spanish at home, as Senora takes any opportunity she can to improve her language skills.
Read on to learn more about one of Hamilton’s newest teachers!
What would students be surprised to know about you?
I love my job & working with kids but do not plan to have any!
What song do you know all the lyrics to?
“Country Girl” by Luke Bryan (I had a bit of a country phase in high school).
Describe yourself in one sentence.
I am a high energy, loud, passionate person who loves connecting with others!
What superpower would you like to have?
Mind reading! It would be cool to have insights on peoples’ true feelings on topics!
If you won 100 million dollars what would you buy first?
Plane tickets (first class!) to every Spanish speaking country I haven’t been to yet!
What would your perfect room/ classroom look like?
My perfect room/classroom would have lots of natural light & space to move around with comfortable seating as well as areas for group work. It would be orderly with warm colors & an unlimited supply of flair pens, Starbucks, & snacks!
If you could meet anyone in history who would it be and why?
I would want to meet Catherine de' Medici because she was a highly influential woman of her time who was able to achieve her goals in a male dominated era.
What book or movie would you recommend to your students?
The movie Jungle which is based on a true story about a man who was lost in the Bolivian Amazon.
What is the best advice you have received?
“Make every day feel like Friday energy.” This is something said to me by my first principal my first year teaching & it is something I try to emulate in my classroom.
What fictional character best represents you?
Monica Geller from Friends, she is very type A, organized, & loves to plan just like me!
What Crayola Crayon color are you? (The more specific the better!)
Sunglow, a very golden yellow because it is so happy!
Are there more wheels or more doors in the world?
Doors, if you open all the opportunities you have presented in front of you!
What is your favorite TV show? Movie?
I LOVE Schitt’s Creek, David & Moira as hilarious! My favorite movie is the Pirates of the Caribbean series; Orlando Bloom is still my celebrity crush!
Could you see yourself as a middle school or elementary teacher? Why/why not?
NO WAY JOSÉ. I have an elementary education degree as well but after having student teaching experiences in both a middle & elementary school I knew I was too fast paced for that life.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?
Hopefully happily settled into Hamilton in 5 years, re-doing the kitchen in our house in 10 years, & maybe traveling on sabbatical in 20 years?
What were you like when you were in high school?
Very social & involved in different friend groups! I was a runner in cross country & track as well as involved in choir. I was always on the go!
If you could teach any other subject what would it be?
History, I have always found it interesting & there are so many different topics!
What's your favorite age group to teach (freshman, sophomore, etc.)
I think juniors can be really fun especially if you have had them multiple times in class, they are settled into their personalities & looking forward to their next steps so it’s fun to chat to see where they want to head!
What’s your favorite place on earth?
Coco King in Caye Caulker, Belize; we went there for part of our honeymoon & I have never been more at peace!
What’s your favorite food?
Crème brûlée!!! I love sweets & this one always hits the spot!
What would you rather do: meet your future self, or go back in time and talk with your past self? Why?
I would rather meet my future self, I am a big planner so knowing where I will be someday would be cool!
