Lafayette Spotlight: Valerie DiPaola
Dipaola: A loving smile for her students, her job, and most importantly: her dogs!
Say hello to Valerie DiPaola, a highly involved teacher who leads many programs here at LHS. With a love for culture and her amazing dogs, Dipaola shares with us her history at LHS and how much she desires to spread her love of culture with Lafayette’s student body!
INTERVIEW:
Q–What do you teach/do here?
A–I teach Spanish 3, 4, Cinema and AP Spanish. I am also the Curriculum leader for World Languages and ESL as well as the Sponsor of the Spanish Honor Society, Dungeons and Dragons club and the Benevolence and Conservation Club.
Q–Why did you come to LHS and how many years have you been here?
A–In division since 1998. Came to LHS in 2020. Left position at central office to come back at teaching.
Didn’t go to college to teach, went to college to become to lawyer. Worked in Language Lab and tutored students on the side. This tutoring would be when I decided I wanted to teach.
Q–What college did you go to?
A–Undergrad: McDaniel college
Masters: Rutgers and University of Pennsylvania
Q–What do you love about your job?
A–The kids and sharing passion for language and culture
Q–Do you have any advice for young people today?
A–Whatever you do in life, make sure you love what you do
Q–When you were in high school, what was your dream job?
A–Teacher
Q–Do you have any advice or warnings for new teachers entering the career today?
A–Be consistent with rules, be fair, and get to know your students.
Q–If you could make ONE change to LHS, what would it be?
A–Allow well behave dogs owned by teachers to come into school
Q–If you could choose to be born in another time, which one would you choose and why?
A–Golden Age in Spain. Plays being written and culture.
