Hey, Teach! Salida School District interview with Deb Bass

Interview by Samantha Lane

Who, exactly, are our Salida teachers?  Get to know the dedicated, passionate teachers of the Salida School District through these short, inspiring interviews.  If you think being one of these stellar teachers is easy, try walking through those classroom doors one morning.

December Interview:
Deborah Bass
Salida High School 10th and 11th Grade English
Advisor, Tenderfoot Times
Horizons Academy English

I am currently reading…
On Writing by Stephen King, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, as well as listening to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith on CD.

Proudest moment in my teaching career…
Taking first in the 3A Colorado High School Press Association (CHSPA) Sweepstakes my first year, Advising the Tenderfoot Times.

What keeps me up at night…
I don’t usually have a problem sleeping but I often think about my class and students while I am running.

Chocolate or cheese?
Cheese. My favorite is sharp cheddar. I think I put cheese into almost every meal I cook. It’s probably not very good for me, but it makes everything taste so much better.

My favorite day of the week is…
Monday because of the Monday New York Times Crossword Puzzle plus, Sunday night is over which have always been stressful for me.

I wish I had more time (and money) for…
Travel. There are many places I have never been to that I would really like to visit. I have a long list.

In 8th grade, I was…
A lot like I am now. I enjoyed reading and playing sports. I began my career as a Fast Pitch Softball Catcher. After 8th grade, we moved from Seattle to Michigan. It was my first move ever and it was big.

My educational philosophy one-liner…
Get it done and then have fun.

My hidden talent…
Jamming for the Ark Valley High Rollers?

My favorite thing about Salida schools…
I love the smaller class sizes and the collaboration in my department and across departments. And of course, the students.