Seven is not just a lucky number as this year it represents the number of new teachers becoming a part of the Royal Lion family.
ILS has welcomed Patricia Borrego (English Dept.), Charles Dougherty (Mathematics Dept.), Jimena Jimenez (Mathematics Department), Neil Kjeldsen (English Dept.), Rose Lynch (English Dept.), Gabriel Suarez (Social Studies Dept.), and Matthew Shapiro (Head Boys Basketball Coach).
Interestingly enough, this is 21 fewer teachers than ILS incorporated last year.
Coach Matthew Shapiro joined the La Salle family as the Team Sports and Head Boys Basketball Coach. Prior to ILS, he was a graduate assistant student with the FIU basketball team. One of his goals for this year includes developing a winning, family- oriented basketball program.
Talking about his first impressions of ILS and how they have changed, Coach Shapiro said, “the teachers go above and beyond to care for their students. It’s only gotten better.”
Mrs. Jimena Jimenez is part of the Math Department, and this year will be teaching Geometry and Math for College Liberal Arts. Although this is her first time teaching at ILS, she has been a teacher at other schools like Doral Academy High School. Before coming to ILS, she worked with her husband who owns a home-health agency, and took care of her little ones.
After finishing the first week and a half of school, she says she completely loves La Salle. “My first impressions were that this school is very much involved with nature…now I see that I am becoming more healthy thanks to the long walks from the Mercy parking garage.” — Mrs. Jiménez
Mr. Gabriel Suarez re-joining ILS in the Social Studies department, teaching AP Euro this year. He was previously an SGA Moderator and an APUSH teacher when he was a teacher here years ago.
Ms. Rose Lynch is a Coral Reef graduate, coming to La Salle as a freshman and sophomore year English teacher. Her hobbies include reading and watching her favorite show, Gossip Girl. Ms. Lynch was previously a middle school history teacher, but always wanted to teach at the high school level. Her goals this year include settling into the ILS atmosphere and establishing new connections.
When she first encountered ILS, she could see that “the Salesian values are very strong. The teachers, faculty and students have made me feel like I’m at home in the workplace.”
Mrs. Patricia Borrego graduated from ILS.
Mr. Neil Kjeldsen, also known as Mr. K, is a returning teacher, having been part of ILS for fifteen years before he left in 2017. Currently, he teaches AP Literature. Between 2017 and now, Mr. K has been spending his time gardening, enjoying his dogs, reading, writing, and watching his favorite shows with his wife, the ILS Dean of Faculty, Ms. Ana L. Garcia.
Initially, Mr. K was hesitant to come back as a teacher after the COVID-lockdown. After what he calls “political upheavals” and the increasing relevance of social media, he wasn’t sure what to expect. In an interview with the Royal Courier, he stated, “what I learned very quickly upon my return though is that the essence of a teenager has been and always will remain the same.”
He is excited to finally be back and teching the Class of 2024.
Lastly, Mr. Charles Dougherty, who joined the Mathematics Department, will be teaching Chemistry and Algebra II.
