The Saint Viator community this year has many new faces. One of them is Mrs. Catherine Sanders, who teaches English. Even though she is new, she has quickly become a part of the Viator community.
Mrs. Sanders was in the travel industry as an international tour guide for over 20 years before she started teaching.
“I fell in love with the U.K. and its Shakespearean language,” said Sanders.
Mrs. Sanders always knew that she would end up being a teacher.
“When I was young, I would give my teddy bears assignments to do before I could even write,” said Sanders.
25 years ago, Mrs. Sanders went back to school and became a teacher. She went to college at Loyola University. She taught gifted reading, gifted math, social studies and AP Algebra at Berkeley District 87 in Illinois.
“I was very excited to make the leap from younger grades to high school,” said Sanders.
Mrs. Sanders had a lot to deal with at the start of the year. She was the last hire and started the same day as the students. She did not know the curriculum or the summer assignments. She was originally told that she was going to teach only one class but was surprised to discover that she would be teaching six classes.
“With the help from faculty, parents and students, things are getting easier,” said Sanders. Though she had to deal with unforeseen circumstances, the Viator community made it easier for her to adjust.
Mrs. Sanders has been happily married for almost 40 years. She has three kids: Anthony, Abby and Audrey. She met her husband in Texas.
“He’s a cowboy with a thick southern accent,” said Sanders.
Mrs. Sanders has many hobbies. One of them being crafting.
“I have craft night every week with my sisters,” said Sanders.
She is also part of the Morton Grove pickleball team. Mrs. Sanders also loves to swim and teaches water aerobics.
“I cannot go a day without being in the water,” said Sanders.
She also enjoys going to watch Nascar races.
One of Mrs. Sanders favorite teaching memories was when one of her past students wrote her a letter saying how when he walked across the stage at his College graduation he paused and said, “We did it Mrs. Sanders.”
One piece of advice Mrs. Sanders gives is to memorize a quote for yourself. Her quote is by Mark Twain. “The only real mistakes you make in life are the ones you make twice.”