PAGE 2
Get to Know ‘Em Meet Ellen Chirhart ¡Hola! I’m Ellen Chirhart and this is my first year teaching at Mounds View and at Irondale. I teach Spanish I and II and I love the energy of our underclassmen. I’m especially excited to be back at Mounds View since I am a graduate myself. I have fond memories of playing on the tennis team with my best friends and spending long afternoons working in the Viewer room as an editor. A few things have changed but MV still feels like home! I graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, with my B.A. in Spanish and my teaching licenses in Spanish and ESL. Go Zags!! I spent a semester studying in Granada, Spain, and still dream of delicious tapas and jamón. I love the Twin Cities so much I decided to come back home after graduation. When I’m not teaching, I enjoy live music, reading, spending time with my family and friends, going to the family cabin and enjoying our wonderful lakes. I travel every chance I get. This June, I am looking forward to taking my first trip with students. We are going to Costa Rica for two weeks to practice our Spanish skills, explore the beautiful scenery, and live with a host family!
Meet Amanda Zagaros My name is Amanda Zagaros. I get to teach Academic Skills, and co-teach English 10, at Mounds View High School. I help out with the credit recovery program, Bravo, as well as the Anime Club after school. This is the 5th year I have worked at Mounds View High School and my 10th year in education. I went to the University of Minnesota, as well as St. Cloud State University to gain my teaching degree and licenses. I live in Ramsey with my husband, Matt, and two dogs, Casey and Bachka. We enjoy hiking, backpack camping and kayaking. Bachka and I are certified as a therapy dog team and we enjoy visiting nursing homes, Children’s Hospital, The Cancer Center and more. In my spare time I enjoy reading, playing the piano, yoga, and spending time with loved ones. My favorite thing about working at Mounds View High School is getting to work with and know my students. There are so many incredible young people in this building who are going to do amazing things after leaving high school; I feel honored to have the opportunity to teach at such an amazing place.