There’s a natural chatter between English teacher Lauren Rodriguez and her students about various assignments and books. As they continue going over their work, a student corrects her. With a smile on her face, she snaps her fingers, realizing her mistake, and utters one of her favorite phrases: “Oh, drats.”

“The best part about being a teacher is building relationships with students,” Rodriguez said. “I love encouraging students to be better writers and readers.”

One of the main reasons Rodriguez is now teaching here is because she and her husband bought a house in Buffalo and she wants to be involved in the community that she lives in. She said she has felt welcomed and likes all the students she teaches.

“She student taught here while she was getting her degree, and it is exciting to see her again,” journalism teacher Melonie Menefee said. “It’s been fun having her here as part of the staff.”

Since she has a passion for reading and literature in general, she has always wanted to be a teacher. Rodriguez said that teaching has made her more confident.

“This would my seventh year teaching, and I couldn’t be more excited about it,” Rodriguez said. “I love teaching my students what I’m passionate about: reading and writing.”