I was recently given the opportunity to interview Christine Jelinek, a first year Algebra teacher, here at Alliance High School. Although, it is her first year at AHS, she has taught for the last 14 years at many schools. Jelinek has a bachelors in Science in K-8 Education, a minor in Mathematics, and a Masters in Administration from Chadron State College. Prior to attending CSC, Ms. Jelinek attended Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska.

She is from Alliance, NE and graduated from Alliance High School in 2002. In her high school years she acquired a love for math because of her teachers; Sheila Schmeits and Pam Cyza. Jelinek stated, “They have always given their best effort, kept their students to high standards and are in my opinion, the best teachers Alliance has ever had.” When asked if those were her only inspirations she answered, “No, I have had so many wonderful teachers, those two are just the most inspirational.” One of Ms. Jelinek’s students, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, “She is a great teacher, she knows what she is doing and how to keep kids in line” I asked a teacher, Mrs. Izzy Thompson, what she thought about Ms. Jelinek. Mrs. Thompson stated, “She’s a great teacher, yeah we are friends but that doesn’t change the fact she knows how to teach” 

 Ms. Jelinek hopes to share her love for math, Algebra in specific, to all of her students. She stated, “I don’t need them to walk away wanting to be a teacher, I just want them to understand math and have it not feel like a task” As Ms. Jelinek said, “You can smile your way through anything!”