As Terra Linda’s halls reopen and classes begin both new and returning students have already started to discover the teachers that will become their favorites. One of these favorites is AP Psychology and English 9 teacher Mrs. Fry. Supportive, dedicated, and encouraging, Fry has been on campus for four years and has made a big impact on many students’ lives. After student teaching under Ms. Arcangelo and Mr. Lumsden in hybrid-learning during the pandemic, Fry began her teaching career at San Marin, but hoped to return to Terra Linda in the future. “I knew everybody here; I liked our department, I liked our admin team,” shared Fry. “So there was always something in the back of my mind that said ‘If something opens up, I’m going to apply to come back to TL.’” When a job opened in the English department in 2022, Fry listened to that voice and decided to return to Terra Linda.

Over her time at TLHS, Fry has taught three courses: English 9, AP Literature, and AP Psychology. She has taught freshman English since she was a student teacher, but has been fortunate enough to teach two of her dream classes as well at Terra Linda. “Lit I love because I love reading. In English, my dream is just to be able to nerd out about books and short stories,” notes Fry. Many students have noticed her enthusiasm for all the subjects she teaches and how it has translated into their learning. Senior Mia Schlotman shares that “Having [Mrs. Fry] freshman year really set the foundation for English. I still remember how she taught us to do annotations and how she would always do them with us.” Schlotman has had two courses with Fry over the years: English 9 and AP Psychology. She spends a lot of time in Fry’s classroom, and describes how the room always feels like a “safe space to talk to her and talk to each other”. Fry always offers patience, kindness, and a helping hand to students who need it. 

Many students have noted how Fry always puts her students first and empathizes with them. “I really admire her patience and her ability to understand where people are coming from,” comments Schlotman. Fry does her best to talk with all students to understand their perspective and how she can best support them. Whether it is offering an extension on an assignment or a conversation during a tutorial. Fry’s students always feel taken care of in her classes. “I try to put myself in their shoes while I’m teaching,” shares Fry. “What are the things that I anticipate they will need more help with, or what are the things that we can skim over.” Fry’s dedication to teaching and supporting her students has made her one of the best teachers on Terra Linda’s campus.