Mrs. Alberts Shows Love for Languages Through Teaching

At Buffalo High School, students of all grades are presented with the opportunity to dive into learning about different languages. Most popularly taken is Spanish, which is only taught by three teachers. For Spanish teacher Karrie Alberts, teaching goes beyond textbooks and busy work. Sitting at a desk in Alberts’s classroom involves not only the exploration and discovery of the Spanish language–she furnishes students with a remarkable outlook on cultural appropriation and customs.

Alberts always knew that she wished to be a teacher, but Spanish wasn’t her initial subject. Her first job was working as an English Language Development teacher due to her interest in language arts. There, she helped students learn English. Her love for teaching students languages is what led her to become a Spanish teacher in 2011; eventually, she began teaching at Buffalo High School, where she continues to flourish.

Alberts’s day-to-day schedule is very compact–working from sunrise to sunset. She gets to school early in the morning to prepare for a day full of teaching from bell-to-bell and lesson planning whenever she has time to spare. Despite her diligent schedule, it’s evident that teaching is a rewarding career for Alberts.

“My favorite part about teaching is the students. I love connecting with the students and planting seeds in them to help them along the way,” Alberts said.

Along with her love for the students, Alberts has strong respect and admiration for the Spanish culture and language.

“The language is cool,” Alberts said. “I love speaking Spanish and learning more about it. The culture is super vibrant, playful, fun, exciting, and happy–among many other things.”

Alberts’s welcoming nature towards the students does not go unnoticed, and the feeling is often reciprocated. Students find that Alberts is a teacher whom they can talk to about anything they need.

“Mrs. Alberts is a very welcoming teacher,” Payton Hynes ‘27 said. “All of her students feel like they can go to her if they have any issues with anything.”

Amid her teaching journey, Alberts found herself advising Buffalo High School’s Student Council, due to an email that was sent out for applicants of interest. Her involvement in the student council has led her to become a support system both in and out of the classroom. 

“I work with the executive group,” Alberts said. “We shoot ideas back and forth. I’m bridging the gap between the administration and the students; I work with the students until they are ready to launch something. I guide that process of setting things up.”

Alberts is a predominant representative of Buffalo High School; she stays positive and friendly even on the gloomiest days. Her bright personality radiates as she offers students someone to look up to–every student who passes through her class is granted the delights of having her as a teacher. Alberts is the embodiment of how teaching isn’t just a career–it’s instead a true gift and a passion.