Whether it’s falling into a snowbank during bus duty, tripping in the hallway with papers flying everywhere, or taking a trip to urgent care with a broken toe after falling down a stairwell, it’s Spanish teacher Kristen Halpern’s perfectly imperfect moments that make her even more lovable.

Halpern does not just teach Spanish – she inspires her students to view the world in a whole new way. For Halpern, it’s not just about conjugating verbs or mastering vocabulary, it’s about fostering a love for the language and culture that sticks with students long after they have left her classroom.

“Being able to connect with students after they leave here, and to know that they are happy and successful and that you maybe had a small part in helping them find who they are is amazing,” Halpern said.

When she was younger, Halpern started as a French student, but that experience “didn’t go well,” so she switched to Spanish during her sophomore year of high school. She quickly fell in love with the language excelling in class and enjoying the teachers and the culture.

Halpern went on to major in Spanish at Keene State College and participated in a study abroad program in Ecuador during her junior and senior years. While there, she lived with a local family for a semester and met people from around the world.

“Spanish made more sense being in that kind of environment and being completely immersed in [culture]” Halpern said. “The people I met there were from all over the world, and Spanish was the one thing we had in common,”

Halpern has been teaching at LHS ever since 1996, and this school has been a constant in her life, as it’s like a “second home.” Throughout her time here, she’s built a family of her own, getting married and raising two kids, all while remaining a dedicated part of this school community.

“The people that worked here have treated my kids like their own and watched them grow up,” Halpern said.

Halpern values her department and the people she works with. She feels “fortunate enough” to have been part of this community for a long time and appreciates the impact this school has had on her life.

“I spend more time with the people here sometimes than I do with my own family in the course of a week,” Halpern said. “The people who have been here with me since I started teaching have been the ones who have really shaped who I am as a person and an educator.”

This deep sense of community with her colleagues proved especially important to her when the world changed in 2020.

When COVID-19 struck, it forced Halpern and other teachers to reconsider how they would engage their students and address specific social and academic gaps to positively impact their learning.

“[Covid] made us take a look at our curriculum from a teaching standpoint, and we had to make significant adjustments,” Halpern said. “As a school, we had to catch up with the surrounding communities and society in general.”

The impact of COVID-19 also prompted a change in Halpern’s personal life.

“Watching my children go through COVID-19 in high school changed my perspective on a lot of things, like homework and classwork,” Halpern said. “It gave me the chance to learn how to get the most out of my students while they are with me.”

Halpern has successfully found ways to keep her students engaged and motivated. These challenging times have helped her forge a stronger bond with her students, who now see her not just as a teacher, but as a mentor.

Her students consistently express gratitude for her support, engaging lessons, and the lasting influence she had on both their academic and personal growth.

Junior Daisy Cogan, a student in one of Halpern’s honors classes, adores her “helpful and cheerful” demeanor, as well as the bright smile she brings to class every day.

“[Senora] Halpern is very spirited and I love having her as a teacher,” Cogan said.

Halpern encourages creativity in her class by assigning projects, such as filming videos and podcasts based on stories read in class, or creating trifolds about different countries.

“Even notes are fun,” Cogan said. “She lets us color in our packets and always gives us time to do homework in class.”

Another student in one of Halpern’s honors classes is junior Julianne Swisher. She said she “looks forward to her class every day” and “loves” being her student.

“She comes up with creative ideas to make learning exciting and her classroom is so fun,” Swisher said. “All the decorations make the environment feel safe and comfortable.”

Junior Ava Falzarano is also in one of  Halpern’s honors classes, and she feels that Halpern has had a significant impact on her learning.

“I really adore Señora Halpern’s class,” Falzarano said. “We play lots of fun games, and I love the projects she assigns.”

While her students admire her passion, it’s Halpern’s down-to-earth personality that sets her apart from other teachers.

Halpern’s deep connection with her students and her passion for Spanish are what truly define her as a teacher. For her, teaching is about creating an experience that leaves a lasting impact.

“To be to today’s students what the best teachers that I had throughout my life were to me is meaningful,” Halpern said. “It’s not just about learning the language; it’s about learning about people and cultures that are different from you, and how you can adapt to fit wherever you are. And that fits into all aspects of your life.”