This interview was conducted through Gmail. It consists of a series of questions asked by Ms. Labarca’s experience as a newer member of the Amityville Memorial High School Staff.
Amin: Good morning! I am the president of the Amityville Echo and we are conducting brief spotlight interviews on select teachers.
How long have you worked here?
Ms. Labarca: I started working in Amityville in January 2023. I came here from Hempstead HS. I worked at a few schools either full-time or part-time. I’m happy to be close to home and at a school where I’ve been able to do some of my favorite things (balloons, kayaking, science, and business teaching).
Amin: What have you done before working here (post-high school, during college, post-college, etc.)?
Ms. Labarca: My background is a BBA from Hofstra majoring in Business Computers and an MS in Secondary Education- business at Hofstra. I soon realized that although I think business is an essential skill that I have a deep love for science. During my master’s degree, I did a study abroad for a month to the Galapagos and Amazon in Ecuador. This is in part due to an amazing professor, Dr. Bennington, who is now chairperson of the “Geology, Environmental and Sustainability” department at Hofstra University. I added to my science credits and eventually became certified in Earth Science, Living Environment, and General Science (in addition to my Business certification for a total of 4 teaching certifications). I love teaching and would never change careers. (But only secondary meaning 7th to 12th grade). If I won the lottery then maybe I’d become a full-time college student.
Amin: What is your favorite hobby outside of work?
Ms. Labarca: My favorite activities besides making balloons include kayaking, walking trails with my dogs, and visiting national parks and museums. My favorite books are sci-fi and murder mysteries. Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game” is my favorite book.
Amin: How do you feel about running this never-before-seen jester club?
Ms. Labarca: The story behind the Jesters club. In 6th grade, I received a great report card and my Aunt Marianne took me to Barnes & Noble bookstore. She said I could pick out any book for my good report card. I picked out a small black and white book about making balloon animals. My aunt was a bit worried about me learning to make balloon animals from a book with a small hand pump. I succeeded and eventually learned to juggle as well as decorate with balloons. In fact, in 9th grade, I hurt my back and had to drop out of sports such as basketball and bowling. My parents found a gym that had a juggling night in NYC. So every Thursday night my father drove me to visit Grandma near Chinatown and then we headed to Carmen’s Street Gym so I could practice juggling since that wasn’t too harsh for my neck and back.
Amin: If you could work any other job, what would you work as or do? (it can be as realistic or unrealistic as you’d like):
Ms. Labarca: Last summer (July/August 2023) I actually worked for Amityville SD Leaders of Tomorrow summer program doing the Kayaking camp. We had about 8 participants for the kayaking camp. Other 9th to 12th graders were involved with volleyball and swimming camps. We had a blast. We went up and down the inlet next to the Dinghy shop near Amityville Beach. The school district owns several double kayaks that are stored at the Dinghy shop. We also did scavenger hunts on the water and shore. We flew kites, used binoculars and we made animal tracks (footprint) casts. I’m really hoping that the Leaders of Tomorrow program runs again this summer. Personally, I love slow-moving rivers such as the Nissequogue River. I own several kayaks and have roof racks on my Elantra.
Amin: Any ‘‘favorites’’?
Ms. Labarca: My Dogs… I have a 16-year-old Chihuahua, Mojo, that I inherited when a close friend passed away several years ago. Mojo is not your typical chihuahua. He loves people, animals, naps, and going out even if he can’t walk very well. I have a 13-year-old Rat Terrier, Jake, who runs and jumps like he’s much younger. I also have a Staffordshire bull terrier, Kano, that’s very people-friendly and used to compete in “Fast Cat” a 100-yard dash. Mojo was named after a small dog in the Transformers movie in 2007. Jake was named after Jacob in Twilight movies (because I certainly couldn’t name him after a vampire). Kano was named after a character in Mortal Kombat. I typically go to Belmont Lake State Park or Blydenburgh County Park with the dogs (Mojo in the backpack because he doesn’t walk well. Jake and Kano on leashes).
Amin: If you could travel to any country (and live there), where would it be?
Ms. Labarca: I have visited many national parks and national historic sites. (https://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm) I even have their passport book so I can get stamps at each national park I visit. I have visited many locations along the East Coast (Everglades, Delaware Water Gap, Acadia, Salem, Great Smoky Mountains, Mammoth Caves) as well as a few other places in the country (Yosemite, Redwoods, Grand Canyon, Pictured Rocks). I’d like to see Yellowstone and Hawaii. For the solar eclipse, I’m traveling upstate to the Adirondacks near Tupper Lake, NY. Although I won’t be at work on the 8th, I did make sure to buy my Earth Science students eclipse glasses that I’ll be handing out to my period 7/8 class this week. For the April break, I’ll be traveling to Ireland for the first time with my brother and two of my nephews. In the future, I would like to visit Iceland, Australia and China, or Japan.
