Teacher Interview: Señora Savukoski

By Gyan Sreejith / Henry Wang '27 

Every issue, The Spectrum interviews a staff member to share their perspective on the Acton-Boxborough community. This fall, we are excited to introduce Señora Savukoski to those who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her, and to provide more insight into her life for those who have. At home, Señora Savukoski is a wife and mother of two children, and her involvement in the AB school district is extensive. With twenty-three years of teaching experience, she currently teaches Intermediate Spanish II, and Spanish I CP and Honors. In addition, she serves as the advisor for the chess club and was the department leader for nine years. She is deeply passionate about fostering a love of language and culture in her students while also encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving through the chess club. Her dedication to both academics and extracurricular activities has made her a well-respected member of the AB community.

Q: How do you think this year is going so far?
A: It's been awesome, and I hope my students feel the same way. The classes are much larger than previous years, yet everyone is still very kind. I feel as if we are building a community. As the impact of COVID on students’ learning continues to lessen with each passing year, students’ Spanish abilities are showing an upward trend, and this year is no different. From the school’s standpoint, I like the focus on safety. The school is doing a good job in strengthening the community, and advisory plays a significant role in this effort.

Q: What is one piece of advice you can give to readers?
A: I believe that progress is much more important than perfection, both in our day to day lives and in the academic world. If you are trying your hardest and putting in the maximum effort you can, there is nothing else anyone can ask from you. You should not get discouraged if you receive a bad grade in a class if you gave it your all. Later in life, when you leave this school, no one will remember the grade you got on some random test. What truly matters is how you treated others—so make the most of high school, enjoy the experience, and be kind, because people will remember your kindness.

Q: What is the most common mistake you see students making?
A: Here at Acton-Boxborough, most people do not enjoy the journey as much as the destination. They focus too much on achieving one thing and then moving on to the next. They forget to enjoy themselves throughout these accomplishments, and overall, most people need to slow down and really relish the moment. 

Q: What is the major difference between your high school experience and the one you see today?
A: Obviously, there is the influence of phones. But from a non-material standpoint, the attitudes of students have really changed regarding school pride. I was a really involved student, joining all of the clubs and events. It was normal at my school for everyone to go to every football game and dance, yet in this generation, hardly anyone really goes. I asked one of my classes, which has 30 students, who was going to the Homecoming Dance, and not a single student raised their hand. Again, I believe we need to really slow ourselves down and take the time to enjoy the moment. 

Q: If you had to go back and do high-school again, what would you change?
A: Firstly, I loved high school, but I do not think I would want to go back and do it again if I had the choice. Even if I did have to go, I doubt I would change a thing. I was really shy and was not a leader of anything, yet I was super involved in school activities, such as band and Student Council. These experiences made me who I am today; there is no reason I would want to go back and change anything. 

Q: Why did you choose to teach Spanish out of all of the subjects?
I grew up in a bilingual household, Finnish-American, and was used to a dual culture background. Even though Spanish and Finnish are very different, this idea of bilinguality stuck with me. Also think about how fun it is to teach Spanish compared to all of the other subjects. I get to teach about different cultures, foods, music, and celebrations; there is so much to do, and I feel lucky to be able to teach it all. 

Q: Do you think teaching Spanish to native English speakers is easier than teaching English to native Spanish speakers?
I think both groups have unique needs. There is no way to easily quantify which language is easier to learn. Unfortunately, I believe that our school could do a better job helping native Spanish speakers learn English. Every person has different needs, and certain individuals may have more experience with languages than others.

Q: What's the significance of alpacas in the classroom?
They’re so happy and have this incredible ability to make people smile. We even have therapy alpacas—they just bring joy to both me and the students, creating a fun and uplifting environment. My dream is to have a farm full of alpacas. People often say they’re like cats, just bigger!

Email us at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram with requests for teachers you’d like to see interviewed. We hope you learned something new about Señora Savukoski!