Una Nueva Profesora

This week there’s a new Español teacher in the IB program.

Una+Nueva+Profesora

Mrs. Bonkowski has stepped up to replace IB Spanish teacher Eldon Brathwaite, who taught at PHU for 17 years. As Mr. Brathwaite continues to enjoy his retirement, students anxiously await the arrival of the new Spanish teacher.

But there’s no reason to be anxious. So far, it looks like she will be a good teacher.

Before she was hired at Palm Harbor, Mrs. Bonkowski taught at Pinellas Park High School.  Because she has experience with older students and more rigorous curriculum, students here shouldn’t expect her class to be too easy.

Additionally, Mrs. Bonkowski said that she has been teaching for about twelve years, eight of which have been in Pinellas County.

Although teaching in the IB program is a new experience for her, there are both similar and different things from what she had expected.

Will she teach the way many students anticipated? So far, she is doing well, but her teaching methods are subject to change, since she is still transitioning from working at Pinellas Park.

So, only time will tell how things will really turn out.

Students’ opinions varied concerning how they wished the teacher to instruct and organize her class. Some hoped she would be a challenge for them, while others were hoping for an easier teacher.

Roya Marzban said she preferred, “a challenging Spanish class to help in preparation for ongoing years.”

Daria Tabota had a slightly different opinion. Tabota said, “I’d rather have something in the middle.”

Overall, many students wanted a teacher that would prepare them well for years to come, all while going at a pace that the students can keep up with.

Although it didn’t matter to some students, there were some mixed opinions concerning whether students wanted the teacher to be easygoing or strict.

Tabota said she’d prefer, “more of an easygoing teacher.”

“I don’t really have a preference,” Marzban said.

But after their first few days of class, they both had somewhat conflicting opinions.

Marzban said, “I don’t really understand how her class works yet, but right now, she’s not too hard or too easy.”

“I think she’s going to turn out to be a good teacher to finish off the school year,” Tabota said.

Mr. Brathwaite was an amazing teacher and he did a great job, setting a high bar for his successor. And Mrs. Bonkowski, so far, seems to be a good teacher from whom all of her students will surely learn a lot, too.