Get to Know CCHS Staffulty Member - Claribel Timmins

- What subjects and grade levels do you teach?
I am currently teaching Spanish 1 (College Prep) to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.  I also teach Spanish 1 Honors.

- What is your educational background? 
I completed my high school education in San Jose, Costa Rica at a Catholic school named Saint Clare College.  I later earned a bachelor's degree in education with a concentration in Spanish from the University of Toledo.

- What did you do before joining the CCHS faculty?
Before joining CCHS, I worked as a bilingual recruiter for several large corporations, including Ericsson, Massachusetts General Hospital, Applied Materials, and PPG.  I also have experience as a Spanish interpreter for hospitals in the Toledo, Bowling Green, and Sylvania areas. 

- What inspired you to become a teacher?
Learning languages has always been something I’ve enjoyed.  However, my biggest inspiration to become a teacher was my dad.  He was a journalist and a Spanish teacher who instilled in me the value of learning a foreign language.  He emphasized the numerous opportunities that come with knowing a foreign language.  Additionally, I took 3 years of French, and I hope to travel to France and spend the entire summer there to further my studies in French!

- What made you want to teach at Central Catholic specifically?
Central Catholic offered the diversity I was seeking.  I love coming to school and seeing students from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds.  I also appreciate that CCHS excels in sports and extracurricular activities, making it a vibrant place to be.  The historical significance of the building adds to its appeal.

- What do you hope your impact will be on your students?
I hope my students will find that learning a new language can be enjoyable.  I hope that in the future they may want to extend their knowledge by traveling or taking more foreign language classes in college.  But more importantly, I aim to open their eyes to the importance of understanding cultural diversity and appreciating aspects of it that may not be part of their own culture.  Teaching tolerance and inclusion is essential for creating a better world. 

- What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?
I enjoy crocheting, oil painting, reading, riding my bike, walking, and spending time with my family and my little Black Pomeranian dog.