The 2024/25 school year has officially begun and brought with it a collection of new SHS staff. These staff members fill a variety of positions including long-term substitute positions, positions left open due to retiring staff, and even new positions that have become necessary with the growth of the school. So who are the people behind the new names scattered on our rosters?
Carolyn Grimaldi
Mrs. Grimaldi began at Sentinel this year to teach U.S. government and U.S. history and has been a teacher for many age ranges from pre-k to college. Most recently, she worked at Willard High School but has also taught in more unconventional classrooms such as museums and montessori programs.
When asked about why she decided to go into teaching, Grimaldi responded that while she would have never thought about being a teacher when she was in high school, she loves learning and aims to “get people to stay curious” about the world around them. One of her goals at Sentinel is to encourage learning over achievements and grades.
Along with this, Grimaldi is working to get to know her students through her favorite Hemingway inspired assignment: A story in six words. This assignment is based on a myth about Hemmingway addressing claims of the public that he was a fraud and a drunk. He told a story in a minimum amount of words to prove his skill: “for sale–baby shoes– never worn.”
She and her students practice this skill for concise wording as she gives them the instruction to “tell [her] their story in six words”. She feels that through this assignment she can get to know her students through their eyes and give them some information about herself. Her story: “Jersey Girl–Starting over–yet again.”
Michelle Brown
Ms. Brown works to teach freshman English with Ms. Golding as well as Algebra 1A alongside Ms. Pfeifer. She also teaches a section of study skills but she enjoys teaching math the most because it is “so hard for so many students” and she feels that she can help them to improve. Before she came to Sentinel she worked at Helena High School and in Vail Valley Colorado and is excited to get to know Sentinel culture better.
Brown was inspired to go into teaching from the time she was in school due to the kindness and support of her own teachers. She always felt that she had a place in school and she hopes to create a “safe and happy place” for her students and stresses her willingness to help any student that walks through her door.
The staff at Sentinel are working hard to create a good environment for the students and even the new members of the team which are already on top of making students feel welcome and supported in their classes. With these new faces and old familiar faces in the hallway to say hello, it seems like the 2024/25 school year will be a good one.
