Two weeks before summer began, Community released its master schedule, and the news of a new history teacher came out. Sarah Roldán-Dodson, most recently the former Pioneer AP U.S. History teacher, would now be teaching history at Community.
Roldán-Dodson began teaching in the Ann Arbor district after earning her graduate degree at the University of Michigan. She has had a love for history since she was a little kid but didn’t think about teaching as a career until after graduating from college. Roldán-Dodson’s inspiration for becoming a history teacher came from her grandfather.
“His stories of World War II were sort of the original hook, I guess,” Roldán-Dodson said. “I would read and watch documentaries, and I love museums. And then one day, I was like, ‘Why am I not just becoming a history teacher?’”
She started her career in teaching at CHS in 2011. Now she is back in her old classroom. All these years later, she still remembers the staff who were here and where her students sat.
Roldán-Dodson was hesitant about the CHS block schedule after teaching at Pioneer and before that, Huron.
“I thought 100 minutes would seem like a really long time, but it has gone by fast,” Roldán-Dodson said. “My Mondays and Wednesdays are pretty long because I have a block seven, but I like the flexibility.”
The hardest part of moving to CHS was leaving behind her colleagues from her previous schools
“It is kind of sad,” Roldán-Dodson said. “I love people that I care about. They’re my best friends.”
Although Roldán-Dodson is sad about leaving her co-workers, she is eager to teach her favorite subject, U.S. History at CHS. Roldán-Dodson is also teaching philosophy for the first time which she is looking forward to, although it feels daunting.
“I am excited about Philosophy, but I’m nervous because I want the kids to have a good experience, so I’m more focused,” Roldán-Dodson said.
Overall, Roldán-Dodson is excited to be back teaching at CHS after so many years. She hopes her students will become as passionate about some person or event in history as she is.
