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Thompson

Rachel Thompson joins the Norfolk Academy family as an Upper School Spanish Teacher. She's also advising a few different clubs.

Thompson graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Spanish Philology and English Literature from St. Louis University in Madrid, Spain, and later received an M.F.A. in Writing and Translation from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She spent 19 years with Virginia Beach City Public Schools, first as an IB Spanish teacher, and later in the Office of Family and Community Engagement, where her work centered on language access and connecting multilingual families with support and resources. She was recognized as the 2020 Virginia Beach Citywide and Virginia Region 2 Teacher of the Year and the 2021 FLAVA Virginia State World Languages Teacher of the Year. Outside of the classroom, she is a board member for Seven Cities Writers Program, which brings writing workshops to underserved communities. 

Why did you want to become a teacher?
I didn't know I wanted to be a teacher! I studied linguistics and literature in college, and it wasn't until my former high school Spanish teacher asked me to step in as a long-term substitute that I found out that I love teaching. Sometimes you find your way and sometimes the way finds you.

What excites you about Norfolk Academy?
I'm excited about how kind, energetic, and interested in the world my students and colleagues are.

What's one fun fact about you students might find interesting?
I love to read and obsessively anticipate the Booker, Orange, and National Book Award long lists every year.

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