Her Story
About Sara
Sara Herrmann is a Spanish teacher in her 16th year at Pittsburgh Public Schools in Pittsburgh, PA. She currently teaches AP Spanish and Advanced Spanish, and has also taught Portuguese for several years. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, followed by a Master's of Education in Foreign Language Education in Spanish from the same institution. She holds a certificate to teach Portuguese. Earlier in her career, Herrmann worked for two years as an industrial engineer in California after using her Spanish language skills to secure the role, and she also held a position in sales management. She is a member of the PFT, PSMLA, and Yoga Alliance. Herrmann attributes her success to motivation, hard work, and a strong interest in cultures and connecting with others.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sara
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think probably motivation, I guess? It's like being motivated enough to follow through on a goal and working hard to get there. Or just interest also in these. I think definitely because I'm interested in all the cultures and people, and getting to know people, and connecting with others.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My family wasn't super motivating. I was always self-motivated. ... the only thing that comes to mind right now is just, like, don't overthink it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think that it's most important and it's hard to do when teaching a foreign language, because they want you to use only the target language, but I think it's again, like, it comes back to connections. I think it's really important to find ways to build a rapport and connect with your students, and also get them to feel connections among them, and feel like they can be open with you by building that rapport, so that they're comfortable. Giving them all the supports they need so that they feel like they have the tools to learn and to grow.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Just like all unnecessary interruptions and requirements. Administration. Other things that we have to do to make sure I would not have as much time to put our ideas together. I also always want to make improvements and changes, so that's on me, I guess. I'm not, I can't just pull up last year's plans, like, hardly ever. I'm always tweaking and making it better or more relevant to what's going on currently in the world.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Happiness. Relationships and connections. Self-advocacy. Kindness. Inclusion. I don't like when someone is ignored. Making others feel like they can be included and fit in. Advocating for students to self-advocate.
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