By Noah Chidester   PCHS added five new members to the faculty this year, including additions in the Spanish and Counseling departments. 

     Ms. Angela Iafrate, who attended PCHS, is extremely passionate about the Spanish language. She earned her undergraduate degree in foreign language as well as her Master’s Degree in Secondary Education and Foreign Language at West Virginia University. She has a decorated employment background as well, ranging from teaching in the public school system in Berkeley County, WV, including teaching preschool Spanish, to working in libraries in Brooklyn, N.Y., Morgantown and Parkersburg.

     “Catholic is different because it is much smaller, there is more attention to each student, and an emphasis on character and social justice,” she said. Iafrate said the hardest part about teaching is finding the balance between school and her family, and the easiest is the usage of Spanish every day in the classroom. 

     When she is not teaching, Iafrate is spending time with her 4-year-old son, Luca or teaching a hula hoop class. She also plays the guitar and musical saw.

     Iafrate’s favorite class to teach is Spanish 1, because everybody is “starting from scratch, which means I can use activities that I use in my kindergarten classes.”

     Her advice to all her students? “Don’t let Spanish overwhelm you and just have fun with it.”

     A little-known fact about Mr. Harold “Bud” Tate is that he was once a professional golfer. Tate is the librarian and yearbook adviser, taking over for Mrs. Powderly. Tate was the physical education teacher at Ohio Valley University and an assistant Social Studies teacher at Parkersburg High School.

     PCHS is different to him because of the small classes and the family ties between students. Tate said the hardest part about his job is preparing for classes, but teaching the class is the easiest.  He spends his free time with his wife and son or playing golf.

     When giving advice to his students, he said, “It is important to get your education now rather than later.”

     Ms. Caitlin Lee is in her first full-time teaching position after substitute teaching in the Marietta school system for a number of years. She says PCHS is very private and rules are a factor in discipline. She comes to PCHS with a degree from Marietta College and a managing job at Pier 1 Imports. When she is not teaching, she is with her husband, walking her dog, or enjoying the outdoors.

     To her students, Lee said, “Enjoy being a student. You don’t have adult responsibilities, so enjoy this time while you can.”

     Mr. Drew Spencer is the newest addition in the higher math department. He has taught seven years in community colleges and Marietta College, a year in Charleston and five years as a substitute teacher.    

     “The students here are more motivated,” he said.  Spencer earned two bachelor’s degrees — one from Ohio State University and the other from Ohio University.

     Spencer is an avid gymnastics enthusiast. He is a coach, which takes most of his free time. For him, the hardest part about teaching is having six different classes. The easiest part however is working with the kids, although his students work independently most of the time.  

     Finally, we introduce the guidance counselor, Mrs. Trina Ross. She had a counseling job for several years, including stints at Pressley Ridge Juvenile Center and as a foster care counselor. Ross spends much of her free time watching her kids play volleyball, basketball and football.

     PCHS is her first school setting, and she enjoys it because she has the opportunity to work with kids. To the students of PCHS, Ross suggests, “Do your best at all times. Learn and be respectful and present yourself with confidence.”

     All the new faculty believes in the same principle: do your best, maintain a positive attitude and stay on top of your work. This has become the tradition at PCHS and will be the same for the future.