Señora Kristin Drollinger danced right out of college and into her career as a new Spanish teacher at LZHS.
Ever since Drollinger was young, she was inspired by her father to become a teacher she said.
“To this day, my dad still gets Facebook messages and emails from students he taught, saying how much they enjoyed his class and how much he helped them,” Drollinger said.
Drollinger went to Fremd High School and graduated college in May from University of Illinois in Champaign. This is her first teaching job.
“I thought teaching fit my personality the best, and I love being around kids. I also had great high school teachers that inspired me to become teacher,” Drollinger said. “Before college I never knew I was going to be a Spanish teacher, but I kept continuing classes, and I really enjoyed it and the culture was very interesting to me. I knew it was a subject you could have fun with in the classroom.”
Although Drollinger enjoys her teaching career, she has many interests and hobbies outside of the classroom.
“I like spending time with my friend’s, going to different classes at the gym, shopping, and doing touristy things around Chicago,” Drollinger said. “I’ve always wanted to go to South America, because I would like to see the other Spanish speaking countries and I want to go volunteer at an underprivileged community.”
Drollinger also did poms all four years of high school, and is now the assistant coach for Orchesis, which she really enjoys.
“I danced throughout my whole life and my dad, who became the athletic director, wasn’t too happy when I quit all my other sports for poms,” Drollinger said.
Even though she has not journeyed to South America yet, Drollinger has traveled through Spain, Italy, Paris, and Ireland.
“I tried all of their different foods, took a salsa class in Spain, which was really fun, and just learned a lot more about the history,” Drollinger said. “I studied abroad in Spain for my Spanish major.”
Drollinger continues spread Spanish throughout Lake Zurich, and is excited for the rest of the school year.
“I love it so far,” Drollinger said. “Everyone is very friendly, welcoming and extremely helpful, especially my department.”