Niki Brooks will teach health and be an assistant coach for varsity women’s soccer this fall. She has taught and coached since 2002, and for the past 5 years taught at St. Mary’s Academy. Mrs. Brooks was excited to teach for a couple of reasons. 

“Working in Catholic schools, the Jesuits and the idea of serving others forefront and leading with service is always a really big foundational piece,” Brooks said. 

Outside of the classroom, Brooks wants people to know more about her personally. She strives to be as open as possible and cater to her students. 

“I’m an open book. I’m direct. I love to talk to people. I like to know what interests people have, and I like to make connections,” Brooks said. 

Mrs. Brooks also shared the best piece of advice she ever received. Her Grandma gave her something that she makes sure to live by everyday.

“She always has been somebody who has talked about staying true to yourself, and life is too short not to laugh,” Brooks said. “Laughing is fun. Life is too short, why take things too seriously?”

Full Interview Transcript (edited lightly for length and content)

How long have you been in teaching? 

I have been teaching for 5 years in a classroom, and for PE and coaching since 2002. 

Where have you taught prior to Jesuit?

I was teaching at St. Mary’s Academy for 5 years. 

What classes will you teach this year?

I am teaching health this year. 

What excites you about teaching at Jesuit?

The idea that students are asked to be not just students of academic content, but whole people. To care about the community they are in, to care about the communities they live in at home outside of school, and to invest in what are their morals and values. That is the root of what I get to teach in my classroom, but also the foundation of Ignatian teaching practices. I am excited to be a part of a community that is rooted in tradition, but ready to progress for what is now. I feel that is something that is really important to me. Working in Catholic schools, the Jesuits and the idea of serving others forefront and leading with service is always a really big foundational piece. The idea that you learn more about yourself and how much you can give and what that capacity of compassion, patience, empathy is. You don’t realize it until you see the people you brought into your life. Because of just being able to give time, slow down and see the human beings that are around you, I think that’s what the educational experience hopefully should be in my classroom. I see that within my department and the people that I am working with. Coaching soccer with Mr. Fennah last year was my entry into experiencing this place’s spirit. 

What is something the community should know about you?

The biggest thing is it’s not about me, it’s about how do you care for others?  How can I help serve the community to be better at their passions and pursuits? Those are the things I am interested in, and how people care for others. I’m an open book. I’m direct. I love to talk to people. I like to know what interests people have, and I like to make connections. 

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? 

My Grandma helped raise my brothers and I when we were kids. She always has been somebody who has talked about staying true to yourself, and life is too short not to laugh. It is always better to laugh at yourself or laugh with someone. If you’re laughing at one person, it’s at the expense of them, and it shows the worst part of your character, but if you’re laughing with people, it’s how you build community, it’s how you have fun. It makes it fun for everybody, not at the expense of somebody. Laughing is fun. Life is too short, why take things too seriously?