Meet and Greet: New English Teachers

Jordy Peterson, Reporter

With past teachers retiring or temporarily departing on maternity leave, Cedar Park has added four new teachers to the English department.

 

burke_kristinKristin Burke

She earned her degree in English at Texas State University. Burke has been an English teacher for 17 years.

Q: Why do you like teaching English?
A: I’ve always loved to read, and I came from a time without cable. Reading truly was an escape for me.

Q: What were your favorite subjects in school?
A: Of course English, and I really loved History as well.

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Definitely liver and onions. I know that sounds gross, but my grandfather liked it as well, so it was always a special treat for me growing up.

 

maddux-duane_morganMorgan Maddux Duane

She graduated from Texas A&M in 2015, and is currently working on her M.Ed in Educational Technology, again at Texas A&M.

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Anything Mexican; I love Chuy’s.

Q: Where are you from?
A: I’ve lived here in Austin my whole life. I went to elementary school at Cypress Elementary, and even went here to Cedar Park High School. I graduated from Cedar Park in 2011.

Q: What can you be found doing in your free time?
A: I can be found traveling to Louisiana, Florida and all over Texas to judge cheer competitions and tryouts.

 

kennedy_trudyTrudy Kennedy

She studied English teaching at the University of Santa Barbara in California for four years.

Q:  What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I like to read Young Adult fiction novels and hike. We moved to the Steiner area about 15 years ago, and I enjoy hiking the trails with my family and my two dogs, Blaze and Ella.

Q: What do you like about Cedar Park so far?
A:  The faculty and students are all very respectful and friendly. I was a substitute at other schools in the past, so I can really tell a huge difference with the atmosphere of Cedar Park.

Q: What would be your dream vacation?
A: Oh, that’s a hard one. Probably going to Europe with my family to visit lots of castles.

 

wenerstrom_arielleArielle Wenerstrom

Wenerstrom studied English at Brigham Young University, and received her education certificate from Utah Valley University.

Q: Why do you like teaching English?
A: I love how much reading I get to do, and share my excitement and passion for a subject that most students really aren’t that excited it.

Q: What is an interesting fact about you?
A: I’ve read the dictionary cover to cover two times. I did it for fun. It really improved and expanded my vocabulary.

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: My favorite food is homemade spaghetti, I learned how to make it when I was a college student.