Classroom Conversations: Mrs. Alex Snyder and Natasha
During the 2023-24 school year, Natasha sat down with her then-teacher, Mr. Delight, as a sixth grader. Now in eighth grade and preparing to graduate in the spring, Natasha joined United Middle Main Street's Associate School Director, Mrs. Alex Snyder, for an updated interview. Mrs. Snyder has been a Main St. Bulldog for five years, serving as a science and math teacher and as Dean of Academics before taking on her new leadership role.
With high school on the horizon for Natasha, the Alumni Services room felt like the most appropriate backdrop for an updated interview between the two long-time, hardworking, and joyful Bulldogs.
This dynamic duo reflects on the highs and lows of change, the warmth of Main St. memories, and the excitement for what comes next.
The Huddle: Two different people have chosen to interview you during your middle school career, Natasha! How does that feel?
Natasha: It's okay!
Mrs. Snyder: She's used to being asked to do all sorts of things!
The Huddle: Can you both introduce yourselves?
Natasha: My name is Natasha. I'm in 8th grade, and I've been at this school for three years!
Mrs. Snyder: I'm Mrs. Snyder. This is my fifth year at United, and I'm the Assistant School Director.
The Huddle: Wonderful. And why did you choose Natasha to talk to today?
Mrs. Snyder: I chose Natasha because when I think of a model United Schools scholar, her name always comes to mind. I've known her since she was in sixth grade and have seen her grow a lot, but never lose her respectful, virtuous character. She is someone who I think would be really great to ask some questions today.
The Huddle: And Natasha, what are some things that you're interested in? What's your favorite subject, or what things do you like to do outside of school? After school activities, sports, anything like that?
Natasha: I do volleyball, and my favorite subjects are ELA and probably math. I like math because it's complicated, but it's fun to solve the equations!
Mrs. Snyder: You want to go first? You want me?
Natasha: I'll go first!
Natasha: What's hard about your job?
Mrs. Snyder: I think the hardest part of my job is probably figuring out when to do all the things that I need to do. There's a lot of time in the school day, but sometimes it's hard to meet with everybody and go to all the classrooms I want to see or talk to all the parents I want to talk to. So, that's tough.
Natasha, nodding: Yeah.
Mrs. Snyder: What's the hardest thing about being a student here?
Natasha: Well, the rules are okay. Sometimes they're a bit strict, but not that much. I feel like the most challenging thing is when something happens because of something someone else did, and the whole class gets punished for it.
Mrs. Snyder: Yeah, that's tough. The group consequences!
Mrs. Snyder: What is something that you're learning about right now in ELA class that you can share with me?
Natasha: So, right now we're in the unit of short stories, and we're talking about a short story named There Will Come Soft Rains.
Mrs. Snyder: Oh, yeah?
Natasha: There are two things we’re reading, one's a poem, and one's an actual story. So, the story is from Ray Bradbury. He talks about a talking house in a postapocalyptic environment after World War II. So, there's a family of five, and the house is a robot, but it's alive because it keeps functioning even though the humans are dead.
Mrs. Snyder: Okay. Wow! That's a lot to unpack. Is this a science fiction unit that you're doing?
Natasha, nodding: Yes!
Mrs. Snyder: You know, I almost taught ELA when I got hired to work here.
Natasha: Oh, you did?
Mrs. Snyder, laughing: Isn't that crazy? I'm not an ELA person like you are!
Natasha: You were teaching math and science!
Mrs. Snyder: Those are my favorite things to teach, yeah!
Natasha: Why did you want to work in a school?
Mrs. Snyder: Ooo, well, I originally wanted to become a doctor, so I was going to school for and studying science. I was studying chemistry. But I wanted to do something different before I went to medical school, so I got hired here just to try it out, and I ended up really loving it. I taught eighth-grade science. Well, you know, I was a science teacher for a long time until I decided to do this job. But I really do it because I love you guys. I love working with kids!
Natasha: What are your goals?
Mrs. Snyder: My goals? Oh my gosh, that's tough. I think for this year… as I think you know, I run. So, I'm going to try to run another half-marathon this year. Career-wise, I think I want to continue working here at this school and make it the best school ever. I want us to be the best middle school in Columbus.
What are your goals, Natasha?
Natasha: So, since sixth grade, my mom has always wanted me to get straight A's at the end of every trimester. I try! The hardest subject for me is science because I understand the things, but during tests, some of the questions are worded weirdly. So I end up overthinking myself and doubting myself a lot. So then it's like, “Is this the answer or is this the answer?” And then I end up picking the wrong answer.
Mrs. Snyder: Oh man!
Natasha: So, usually at the end of a trimester, I end up with all A's and then one B!
Mrs. Snyder: So you want to work on your science grade?
Natasha: Yeah. And also to get a scholarship to the Wellington School because the entrance test is on the 24th. I'm trying to study for that thing while also studying for science.
Mrs. Snyder: That’s so exciting! Yeah, she's our Wellington candidate this year. We're really rooting for you.
Mrs. Snyder: What is your favorite memory? From either this school year so far or from being at Main Street?
Natasha: For this school year, there are a lot of memories!
Mrs. Snyder: Yeah! What are your favorite times of the day?
Natasha: Lunch and dismissal!
Mrs. Snyder: Why dismissal?
Natasha, smiling: Because then I get to go home.
Mrs. Snyder, laughing: Yeah, me too! That's my favorite time of the day as well.
Mrs. Snyder: Did you go on that field trip to the ziplining?
Natasha: Yeah!
Mrs. Snyder: You did?! Oh, wait. No, it wasn't ziplining.
Natasha: Is it the iFLY Indoor Skydiving thing?
Mrs. Snyder: The iFLY thing, yeah! I never asked you how that was!
Natasha: I wanted to go, but then I was like, "No, I'm scared of heights!"
Mrs. Snyder: Oh, that's fair! Ziplining was last year, huh?
Natasha: Yeah!
Mrs. Snyder: I'm getting my years confused.
Natasha: I forgot that it was going to be high. So then I got really nervous when it was like this really high platform you have to zipline across. It was just hard!
Mrs. Snyder: But did you do it?
Natasha: Yeah!
Mrs. Snyder: Oh my gosh, you're amazing.
Natasha: It was all right!
Mrs. Snyder, laughing: I could never! What are you looking forward to for the rest of eighth grade?
Natasha: Maybe to continue having a normal school year, building relationships and good environments and stuff like that!
Mrs. Snyder: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Natasha: A lawyer!
Mrs. Snyder: You want to be a lawyer. Why?
Natasha: Because I just like debating people and defending. Because I always watch things, and there's one protagonist, and there's an antagonist. Sometimes people don't always get the validation or the defense they deserve.
Mrs. Snyder: They need someone to defend them strongly. And you would be that person, huh?
Natasha: I don't know if I would be that person.
Mrs. Snyder: I think you would.
Natasha: I want to be that person!
Mrs. Snyder: That’s awesome.
Natasha: What motivated you to work your way up from a teacher to a school principal?
Mrs. Snyder: Oh, I love that question. I think, like you, I have always really liked working hard, which is important. I'm always trying to find the next challenge that I can test myself with. And so, you know, being a school administrator is a really big challenge, and I didn't initially have it in mind, but I love to help people. And so, I found, over the years, that I was able to help a lot of teachers do things I learned from teaching.
And, honestly, if it weren't for [School Director] Dr. B… she kind of encouraged me to use that gift in a different role, as a point person for teachers rather than just being there for students. But you definitely have to work hard and just know that sometimes you might be asked to do something that's scary, but you can learn from it and rise to the challenge.
The Huddle: What is something you guys really appreciate about one another?
Natasha: I appreciate that you're always there, and even in the hardest times, you always have a smiling face on, and you're always happy.
Mrs. Snyder: Aw, thanks, Natasha. Well, I appreciate that you are always someone your friends can count on, and you are kind of an innate model to a lot of people for what goodness and what hard work looks like, but you also just do that because you just do it! You don't do it for the praise and the glory, even though we give you a lot of shine here.
Natasha: I don't like the praise and glory!
Mrs. Snyder, laughing: Yeah, that's what I thought. You're really humble! I think I see a lot of myself in you, and I think that you're going to do really great things, and I also appreciate that you can always just chat with me about fun things in the hallway. We keep it real!
The Huddle: What would you say to people who support your school?
Natasha: Thank you for donating and helping us develop as a school, because most of the stuff is a privilege! Some schools can't afford it, or they don't get this type of support, and some students need this support and the things they offer us. Without them, the school will still function, but it wouldn't be like that school.
Mrs. Snyder: Yeah, that was really sweet. I think our kids are amazing. So, thank you for giving them the support that they deserve and for helping make our school what it is today, because we couldn't do a lot of it without you.
The Huddle: I actually have pulled up Natasha's old interview, and I just wanted to read you what you said your career and college goals were in sixth grade. Do you remember what you think you might have said?
Natasha, smiling: No, not at all!
The Huddle: You said, “I want to go to Harvard. [Natasha: Oh, my gosh!] It's been my dream college ever since I was little. I've always wanted to make my parents proud by going there. So I've always wanted to work hard. Moreover, I've also wanted to get a good job. I haven't decided what that is, but I have open options. A lawyer!” [Everyone laughs.] So you're doing pretty good. You're right on course.
Mrs. Snyder, clapping: There it is!
The Huddle: Do you still want to go to Harvard?
Natasha: Oh, yeah!
Mrs. Snyder: Yesss!
Through all the change and growth, both Mrs. Snyder and Natasha maintain the kind of joy, passion, and grit that Main St. Bulldogs strive towards. Thank you both for highlighting how we’re always growing while at United — from sixth to eighth grade, from teacher to Assistant School Director.
Connection is a hallmark of United culture, and this is a glimpse into the dialogues that define our campuses.
