Meet the GHS Foreign Language Department

Señora Garritano

This year, Señora Angela Garritano teaches Spanish III, Spanish IV, Honors Spanish Grammar/AP Prep and AP Spanish. Garritano formally studied Spanish for eight years and this will be her 23rd year teaching it.

Q. What is your favorite memory involving this language?

A. This is a tough one--because I have so many! But it would have to be the time I spent student teaching in Mexico City and the friendships I formed with my host family and cooperating teacher. Never speaking English, we spent 8 weeks together, working, teaching, eating, sharing, traveling and laughing. I wouldn't trade those eight weeks for anything.

Q. What is your favorite thing about knowing another language?

A. My favorite thing about knowing Spanish is all of the doors that it opens up as I go through life: new friendships, new places, new experiences, and not only that, but all of them richer for the authentic connections that knowing another person's language can make

Señora Popovich

Señora Amanda Popovich currently teaches Spanish I and Skills for Success. She began studying Spanish in fifth grade. This is her 18th year teaching it and her 10th year at Green High School.

Q. What is your favorite thing about knowing another language?

A. Knowing another language opens so many doors and opportunities to not only learn about the language itself but grants so many opportunities to learn about the cultures, history, and people that speak that language. It gives me a perspective not only into the lives of others but provides a unique lens to see how we live and grow as compared to others around the world.

Señora Matisak

Señora Kim Matisak teaches Spanish I through Spanish IV; this year, she is only teaching Spanish II. This will be her 31st year teaching the language.

Q. What is your favorite memory involving this language?

A. My favorite memory was from a high school trip with the Spanish club to Ixtapa, Mexico in 1984. I had only taken 2 years of Spanish at that point, and I was only 15 years old. My Spanish teacher and her husband had their anniversary during the time we were gone, so I went up to the hostess at the restaurant we ate in that evening. I was able to tell her that it was their anniversary, that I wanted them to bring a cake out for her and her husband... and how many years they had been married. My Spanish teacher was so surprised that I could do it without any help. I loved the fact that I got to use my Spanish for something fun ...and a good surprise for my teacher!

Herr Bauknecht

Herr Todd Bauknecht teaches German I through German V. He has taught German for 10 years now and formally studied the language for four years. He works between the GMS and GHS.

Q. What is your favorite memory involving this language?

A. Getting to travel around Germany, driving 200 kmph on the Autobahn, and our class field trips to the Hofbräuhaus with other schools in the area

Q. What is your favorite thing about knowing another language?

A. Getting to communicate with people in German both at home and abroad, it really opens one up to new cultures and ways of thinking

Madame Isaacson

Madame Katie Isaacson currently teaches French III and French IV. She studied French for 12 years, starting in seventh grade, and began teaching the language in 2002.

Q. What is your favorite memory involving this language?

A. When I think back to all the traveling that I got to do thanks to studying the language and now my children get to come along too.

Q. What is your favorite thing about knowing another language?

A. It has allowed me to have friends all over the world and understand other cultures on a more personal level. If we all could try to do this, imagine how kind the world would be!

Monsieur Gustafson

For the 2022-2023 academic year, Monsieur Kyle Gustafson teaches French I, French II, Honor French Grammar/AP Prep and AP French. This is Gustafson’s 10th year teaching French and his eighth year at Green. Like Isaacson, he began studying the language in seventh grade.

Q. What is your favorite thing about knowing another language?

A. Learning another language opens up so many more doors for you. You are way more marketable when you know more than 1 language -- It also allows you to see the world from a different perspective while reading the newspaper or watching the news. Finally, I love to travel and I always have a trip booked. Knowing another language has allowed me to work internationally in the summers when I am not here at Green. These opportunities have taken me around the globe. It's such a great way to see the world for free, and get paid while doing it. It's a win-win!