After 21 years at Starr’s Mill and 10 years at other schools, Spanish teacher Marcela Sample has announced her retirement.
“I’m very happy with what I did at Starr’s Mill,” Sample said. “I like all the students here, and this is an amazing school.”
Sample earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara. She then got her teaching certification from Georgia State and a master’s degree from Central Michigan University.
Sample wants to stay busy after she retires and has chosen to walk El Camino de Santiago, starting in France and proceeding through Spain. After completing the walk of over 500 miles, Sample wants to continue helping others.
“This career has also helped me grow personally,” Sample said. “I’ve become more reflective, more empathetic, and more aware of the impact I can have, not only through what I teach, but through how I treat others—with kindness, fairness, and respect.”
Earlier this spring, Sample earned the Golden Apple for her encouragement of students and for how she creates a safe space for students to take risks in their education.
“Becoming a teacher has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life,” Sample said. “Teaching has taught me patience, compassion, and humility. It has shown me that every student has a unique story, a different pace, and a distinct way of learning.”