The French language along with French culture and experiences will be returning to Cuyahoga Heights High School (CHHS) beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.
“One of the goals of Superintendent Tom Evans and the Board of Education was to restore a second world language to our district as was once the norm at CHHS,” said Matt Young, assistant Superintendent. “Principal Mike Janatovich surveyed the high school student body and received an overwhelming response in favor of another language offering.” Currently the district offers only Spanish and due to scheduling constraints, is not able to offer Spanish IV.
The school district posted the position but did not limit itself to a specific language. “We were simply looking for another language to complement our existing Spanish program and bring in a dynamic, student-centered teacher. Also, an additional world language teacher provides the potential to offer classes and/or enrichment experience in the middle and elementary schools,” explained Young. “We were enthusiastic about the possibilities.”
The district found its answer in the person of Shelby Castle who will join the district teaching French I beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. The following year, the high school will add French II, then French III in 2024-2025, and French IV in 2025-2026. Castle currently teaches at a high school in the Columbus area and spent some time in France.
“She is really excited about relocating and she said she really wanted to come here. We are very excited for her to come to work with us and for us to be able to offer a second language,” said Evens about the addition of Castle to the faculty. “She’s a great hire for us. For me it's always about hiring the right person and not just filling a void. We were patient and believe we've found a rockstar to be a part of our staff.”
“In the past, we had a strong French program, and by offering two languages, we can offer high levels of language for students,” added Janatovich. The addition of French will enable the district to expand its already robust curriculum that prepares students for post-secondary life, providing options for college, career, and military experiences.