![In room 4101, Natalie Patterson ‘26, Ariana Magor ‘25 and Celina Salazar ‘25 create a poster in science teacher Kerry Reilly’s Chemistry Honors April 18. The three completed a worksheet and drawing to explain the implosion of a tank for their unit on gas laws. “At the start of class, we watched a video of the tank imploding,” Patterson said. “I think [making a drawing] is something new. I like more artsy activities.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_5019-1200x900.jpeg)
![The girls varsity soccer team walk back to their bench during halftime April 1. The Jags played against the Castle View Sabercats at the Douglas County Stadium and scored 3-0 W. “It felt really good [to beat Castle View]. I feel like that was a big win for us because knowing that we came together to beat a pretty good team has definitely given us some leverage for this season,” attacking midfielder Grace Rossner ‘24 said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_4906-1-1200x1057.jpg)
![English teacher Colleen Lamb grades College Prep English assignments during period two Nov. 10. Lamb, who has been teaching for 27 years, decorates her classroom with posters and handmade college flags from her senior students. Everything I enjoy about English happens primarily in the classroom, Lamb said. So, thankfully, the college [I worked at] had a teaching program, and I was able to do my post-grad work for free while I was working [there].”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_1158-1200x900.jpeg)
Stroll around the 3000s, and you will spot classrooms with students busy learning English. Bright colors, twinkling lights, fun posters–it’s hard to beat the enthusiasm of the teacher.
Room 3550 stands out: a life-size Scooby Doo plush sits comfortably in a corner, the eyes of crazy cats on the walls follow you around and a red-headed educator greets you with six coffees’ worth of energy.
Elizabeth Romito is not shy by any means; her bubbly personality radiates from her beaming smile to her unique shoe collection. She teaches AP Language and Composition and English IV to juniors and seniors.
“I think that my passion and love for teaching definitely come across,” Romito said.
She tries to engage her students by introducing them to new writing styles and allowing them to practice analysis by breaking down essays into manageable sizes.
Romito loves her English IV seniors as much as her junior classes, but she enjoys teaching non-fiction material to her AP students.
“I wouldn’t change my job for anything,”
— Elizabeth Romito
“I don’t think enough nonfiction is taught,” Romito said. “My AP kids look at [material] in a completely different way.”
Romito is a perfect example of a teacher who not only cares about how well her students perform academically but also about the people they are becoming.
“I really try to sit with the kids and talk with them about stuff other than a rhetorical analysis or an argument essay,” Romito said. “I try to be silly and goofy [with them] because that’s just my personality.”
In her free time, Romito enjoys hiking, cooking, and reality TV. She has three cats: Diablo, Crazy Pants and Bug, whom she loves wholeheartedly. She lives over an hour away from school, in the mountains.
“I wouldn’t change my job for anything,” Romito said.
