Tales Of CB Role Transitions

At CB, there are a multitude of staff who have performed or currently perform multiple roles. These roles range from teaching, to managing attendance, and in some cases implementing a whole different perspective on what teaching is. But why is there so much fluctuation and how does a change in environment change a teacher’s view?

Former Spanish teacher and current Assistant Director of LaSallian Student Life Office Ms. Anna Fernandez described her transition as a new challenge and opportunity to see more of what CB offers. “It was very positive and refreshing. I get to work with programs I’m really passionate about and it’s been welcoming getting to work with new colleagues”.

Though teaching Spanish was a huge connection to her culture, she wanted something new and different. Teaching is already detailed enough, but being the person in charge of making service immersion trips like Venaver happen requires another level of detail — and it’s exactly what Ms. Fernandez needed.

Similar to Ms. Fern, seeking a more fun and challenging role is also what motivated Mrs. Cecilia Powers to change her role many times before landing in the Lasallian student life office as well, where her talents are valued tremendously.

“The transition has been a ton of fun and life-giving to me,” Mrs. Powers says. “I love supporting students and teaching leadership skills such as communication and time management. It has also been hard work and has required a ton of extra time. It’s been a very positive transition”.

We can see a common theme of wanting something new and refreshing with these two amazing administrators. Other staff members like Mrs. Kelly Harrington ‘83, once the Admissions Associate in charge of student ambassadors and now the Attendance Administrator in charge of attendance, were merely seeking more time to relax on the weekends. All of the events CB requires an immense amount of coordination all year long, especially from administrators in the admissions departments. However, Mrs. Harrington’s work in in attendance doesn’t follow her home every day and every weekend.

“Every day is a new story,” she says, and every night is a peaceful one since her switch. With all of these changes, that doesn’t mean that these staff members don’t miss their colleagues and students. Some even get to carry on working with the same students, just in a very different and unique way.

Mrs. Lorie Frias is a unique example in the sense that her role is now fundamentally much different than it used to be as she’s gone from a teacher in the math department to being apart of the Academic Resource Center team. “I’ve switched from presenting information and helping students when they needed help to focusing on the help”. In essence, after 20 years of teaching curriculum in CB’s classrooms, she’s focused now on teaching new ways to learn, which means no lesson plans and no corrections. Instead, she fills up her time analyzing students and their grades one-on-one, where they need help, and where they may need intervention with a teacher.

Students and staff are much more similar than we think. Our wants and goals change often based on how we feel.