The start of a new school year always brings new faces along with the familiar ones. This year, new staff members joined the CHS faculty in a variety of departments, and the Observer sat down with these newest staff members to find out a little more about them.
Nadia Alrabee
Special Education Department
Favorite Subject in High School: “I loved geography, social studies and foreign language. I loved learning about different cultures from all aspects.”
Last Place she worked: Wheaton High School.
Favorite food: Japanese and Thai food.
Matthew Albright
Choral Music Department
Favorite band: Kenny Warner’s Jazz Trio
Most excitedA to: “Teach the choirs, whether it is teaching vocal basics or music theory to fun productions and concerts.”
Pet peeve: “Beethoven once said if you are going to be a street sweeper, be the best street sweeper there is. Meaning no matter what you decide to do in and with your life, be excellent at it. In order to do that, you have to give your full focus and drive at all times. I don’t sit well with people that don’t do that.”
Makeyda Hilliard
Counseling Department
Favorite food: Barbeque chicken with mac n’ cheese.
Favorite band: “My absolute favorite band of all time is N’Sync.”
Pet peeve: “Not following through—if you say it, then do it.”
Margo Hopkins
Physical Education Department
Favorite food: Sushi
Most excited for: “The opportunity to be a part of such a supportive school and community.”
Favorite subject in high school: “Health and P.E. I enjoyed playing sports and learning about the body and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”
Jacquelyn Washam
Art Department
Favorite food: Italian.
Pet Peeve: Sitting in D.C. traffic.
Most excited about: “Working with a great community that supports the arts.”
Nicole Van Tassell
Social Studies Department
Favorite food: “My husband’s a really good cook. He barbeques a roasted whole chicken and we make buffalo chicken sandwiches with coleslaw.”
Pet peeves: “Coming late to class and waiting by the door for the bell to ring.”
Most excited about: “A new environaand I’m ready for new people, new teachers, a ‘newness’ to my teaching.”
Hei Man Anita Ching
Science Department
Favorite subject in high school: Physics and math.
Favorite food: “Dim sum, a Cantonese food.”
Most excited about: “Students—every time I see a student learn something, I am excited.”
Evan Rosenthal
Social Studies Department
Favorite subject in high school: “Social studies. I felt as if it was a story that I could just listen to.”
Pet peeve: “When you’re walking up the steps and people are walking down the wrong side.”
Most excited about: “Gettin’ down at the CHS homecoming dance. That’s how I’ll make my name at the school.”
Benjamin Schnapp
Media Services Technician
Most excited about: Improving CHS’
television program.
Pet peeves: “People leaving messes in my space and not listening when given a simple direction.”
Last place he worked: “This is my first. I graduated from Temple University this past May.”
Lisa Wellek
Business Administrator
Favorite food: Steak fajitas
Most excited about: “I am excited to work in a school because I like the energy that emanates from the student body.”
Pet peeve: “People who are gossip or are petty. Life is too short for that stuff.”
Jesse Motko
Bridge Department
Favorite food: “Pizza. I could seriously eat it everyday.”
Pet Peeve: “When people say pet peeve.”
Last place he worked: “In the Poconos, in Pennsylvania.”
Timothy Lowe
Physical Education Department
Most excited about: The wrestling season.
Favorite animals: Wolverine and honey badger.
Pet peeve: “Food crumbs on me or my clothes.”
Kristin Beheler
World Languages Department
Favorite food: Spanish seafood paella
Most excited about: “Getting to know the students.”
Last place she worked: “The school, Santa María de la Providencia in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.”
Arvind Chopra
Special Education Department
Favorite food: Lamb
Last place he worked: The National Center for Biotechnology Information at the NIH.
Most excited about: “I see a lot of young people who have a lot of potential, and I think a lot of them are going to be leaders of America in the near future.”
