Karen Zavala lives in North Modesto, but commutes daily to teach Spanish in Ripon.

Throughout her 18-year career, she has taught at all University levels and has also taught in Henderson, Nevada and Las Vegas, Nevada. Although Zavala enjoys teaching in Ripon, her favorite place to teach was Nevada.

To her, the children are the most important and memorable part of teaching, especially in Ripon. “The kids here are great,” Zavala said, “They’re smart, beautiful, and wonderful people.”

What she loves about teaching is being able to connect to many different students, each with their own unique backgrounds. She also loves being able to meet motivated and ambitious students, who seek to challenge themselves.

In her free time Zavala enjoys traveling, especially to the bay area, as she loves the weather there.

According to her, the most important thing a high school student can do is to take advantage of each and every moment. “Everyday is a blessing, and everyday is a challenge,” Zavala said, “Everyday is a new experience, and a chance to get something done.”