New teacher Ms. Claire Breiholz is taking over the AP English Language and Composition classes this year.

Before teaching at Jesuit, she taught three years at Seton Catholic College Prep in Vancouver, Washington, including one year of student teaching. Alongside the AP English classes, she will also be teaching freshmen in English I.

Breiholz is excited about helping her students become people for others, as is the Jesuit mission statement. She looks forward to incorporating it into her class, and being a part of a supportive community like Jesuit.

Aside from teaching, Breiholz loves children’s books. Proudly displaying them on her desk, she enjoys sharing them with her students, and reads them to her classes.

“I love children’s books because they are everybody books, the themes relate to everyone,” Breiholz said.

The best pieces of advice Breiholz has ever received is to work smarter, not harder, and that comparison is the thief of joy. She believes that using the resources you already have makes your life much easier and happier.

FULL TRANSCRIPT Q&A

How long have you been teaching?
“This is my, not including my student teaching year, third year of teaching. If you include my student teaching year, this is my fourth year.”

Where have you taught prior to Jesuit?
“So before Jesuit, I was up at Seton Catholic College Prep in Vancouver, Washington, and that’s where I also did my student teaching. Now I’m at Jesuit for my third year [teaching].”

What classes will you teach this year?
“This year, I’m teaching AP English III, so that’s AP Language and Composition. It’s a class on rhetoric—and then I’m also teaching English 1.”

What excites you about teaching at Jesuit?
“I am really excited about the mission at Jesuit, I really love this idea of helping students become people for others, and engaging that mission in the class, and with texts we read, and also just being a part of a community that really values service and community.”

What is something the community should know about you?
“Well, the fun fact that I share with my students and often with other faculty is that I love children’s books, so I collect them and I will occasionally read them to my classes as a way to, you know, reflect on our lives. I have some on my desk and I like to rotate through them and share them with my students. I love children’s books because they are everybody books, the themes relate to everyone.”

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“I have a couple pieces of advice: Work smarter, not harder. Using your resources makes for a much happier life. And then, comparison is the thief of joy. You’re not in competition with anyone but yourself.”