For this teacher feature: we talked to the teacher of the preschool program, child development and sewing, Mrs. Tara Wells!

Q: How long have you been teaching at the high school level? 

A: I have been teaching high school for 23 years total, including subbing.

Q: How long have you been teaching preschool? 

A: I have been teaching the preschool program here since the 2018 school year.

Q: What has been your favorite subject to teach?

A: The preschool program! I had originally thought I would teach elementary school and then I changed my mind when I went to college. So when I took over the Preschool program, it was the best of both worlds because I love teaching high school, but love teaching the little ones as well.

Q: Where did you attend college? 

A: I went to California University of Pennsylvania, which is now Penn West.

Q: What is your favorite slang you’ve heard your students use?

A: My own teenage son uses “fire” a lot. The funniest I have heard was the four-year-old preschooler used the word Skibidi.

Q: What is the biggest difference between teaching high school and pre-school?

A: One would be the obvious lack of independence…help to wash hands, wipe noses, etc. The constant reminders to say, “use your indoor voice”, “raise your hand”, etc. In high school, there are times I can’t get anyone to even raise their hand to answer a question!  You have to be on your game 100% of the time…there is no down time with preschoolers, no “free time”. Free time and preschoolers is not a good mix!

Q: If you could do any job in the world without having to worry about money, what job would you do?

A:  I would be a volunteer at some type of pet shelter with dogs.

Q: What was your first car?

A: My first car was a 1988 Subaru GL Sedan.

Q: What would your last meal be?

A: It doesn’t have to be a full meal, but some good nachos, like authentic ones from a good Mexican restaurant. A good donut too, I love donuts. My favorite cookies is a French Alfie from a bakery in the South Hills, so I would need to have that too.

Q: What was your first concert?

A: It was Third Eye Blind.

Q: If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be and with?

A: There were many family members who I wish I had asked more or spent more time with. Specifically, my great grandmother. She lived to be 105, but as a teenager, I feel like I didn’t really put the time in to really ask much about her life. Looking back, I wish I did because she really lived through so much and probably had so many interesting stories to tell.