From Student to Teacher: Scottsdale Prep Alumni Return to S.P.A. Written and Interviewed By: Morgan Everton

From Student to Teacher: Scottsdale Prep Alumni Return to S.P.A.

Written and Interviewed By: Morgan Everton

For most students, graduation marks the end of their time at Scottsdale Prep. For five current faculty members, however, it eventually led them back to the same classrooms they once knew as students.

Mrs. Alofs, Ms. Arust, Ms. Carpenter, Mrs. Strader, and Mr. Strader all graduated from Scottsdale Prep before returning as teachers and staff members. We interviewed them to learn what brought them back, how they now view their own education, and what they hope current students take away from their time at SPA.

Across the interviews, several themes emerged: a greater appreciation for their education after graduation, the importance of relationships and community, and the opportunity to become the kind of teacher or mentor they once benefited from themselves.

Mrs. Alofs teaches 9th gradeBiology and serves as Scottsdale Prep’s Director of Operations. Her connection to the school extends well beyond the classroom. She met her husband at Scottsdale Prep, and many of the friendships she formed here remain among the most important relationships in her life.

Her experiences shape the advice she gives current students. She encourages them to participate in extracurricular activities because getting involved can help students learn how to build lasting relationships. She serves as the faculty lead for several clubs and helps organize student dances and activities.

Ms. Arust, who teaches 6th and 8th grade literature, is a new addition to the faculty this year and the most recent S.P.A. graduate to return as a teacher.

Her teaching philosophy is that “learning should be something enjoyable, and learning is never done.” She said one of the best parts of teaching is how much her students continue to teach her. She also encourages students not to “take our school for granted,” because of how unique the environment is.

Ms. Carpenter teaches 10th grade drama and 6th grade literature and also assists with Scottsdale Prep’s extracurricular theater program. She said she could not think of another school where she would rather work because of our community, Socratic teaching style, and emphasis on the fine arts.

Looking back, she credits S.P.A. and the Humane Letters classes with helping her become a more confident speaker while also teaching her the importance of listening. “In order to speak well, I need to listen well,” she said, adding that her time in the classroom also taught her humility and how to have productive conversations with others.

Mrs. Strader teaches 6th grade literature. For her, returning to S.P.A. has provided an opportunity to become the kind of person she wishes she had known when she was younger.

She emphasized how important it is for students to feel seen and noticed and said she values being able to provide that support in the classroom. Her advice to current students is to remember that the effort they put into school, activities, and other challenges can shape them in ways they may not fully recognize until later.

Mr. Strader teaches 8th grade history and 9th grade poetry and also coaches high school baseball. He knew he wanted to become a teacher and said Scottsdale Prep was the only place where he wanted to be because of the community he had experienced as a student.

He said he hopes to “spread as much joy as possible and educate students in the classroom while also forming them into better human beings.” He also noted that although the school is rigorous, the ability to manage time, carry on conversations with adults, and ask thoughtful questions is invaluable.

Although each of these alumni returned for different reasons, their experiences share a common thread. The parts of Scottsdale Prep they remember most are not limited to particular classes or assignments, but include the relationships they formed, the challenges they faced, and the teachers who helped shape them.

Now, from the other side of the classroom, they have the opportunity to provide those same experiences for another generation of S.P.A. students.