Karen Almaraz steps up to teaching opening

Former Spanish teacher, Beatriz Foth, unexpectedly retired, Oct. 24, after she fainted from exhaustion earlier in the month.

Karen Almaraz replaced Senora Foth’s position as Spanish teacher. She had a small connection to FC before hearing about the new position.

“Since I attend Peoples Church, I had a previous connection with FC,” Almaraz said. “I was told about the job opening and I applied for it.”

Almaraz has been working at Peoples Church as a part-time Administrative Assistant for their Spanish Ministry for the past two years.

“I assist with translating documents, preparing bulletins on a weekly basis, creating graphics, managing social media sites, the Spanish website and interpreting,” Almaraz said. “I enjoy my job at Peoples Church. I get to be creative, use my talents and help others grow in their relationship with Christ.”

Almaraz took an AP Spanish class during high school and passed the test with a 5. She also took AP Biology, AP Psychology, and AP Literature and Language, so she looks at AP classes as normal classes.

“I knew what we covered in class when we reviewed for the test,” Almaraz said. “There was a speaking section for the test and we practiced a lot for that. We also did a lot of in-class activities to help us like getting together in partners and do a lot of verbal activities and mock tests where we sit down and have practice AP tests that the college board had.”

I assist with translating documents, preparing bulletins on a weekly basis, creating graphics, managing social media sites, the Spanish website and interpreting. I enjoy my job at Peoples Church. I get to be creative, use my talents and help others grow in their relationship with Christ.–Karen Almarez 2014

Almaraz was born in Fresno and raised in Madera. She moved to Los Angeles for two years to attend UCLA and then moved back to Fresno to attend Fresno Pacific University (FPU). She graduated in  with a B.S. in Biology with an emphasis in Human Health.

“I have always been interested in science and health and how the body functions,” Almaraz said. “It really compares to biology and chemistry in many sorts of ways.”

Almaraz has visited Mexico a few times, last time she went was last year. The only place she has visited was Baja, California.

“I feel like a tourist when I visit,” Almaraz said. I speak the language {Spanish} and I am able to communicate to the people there.”

Almaraz currently has positive thoughts about FC. She relates to Fresno Pacific due to the fact that the students treats others like family.

“I think that FC is an amazing school with amazing students and staff,” Almaraz said. “It’s all about building friendships, trust, and our relationship with Christ.”

Katy Blankenship, ’17, is one of Almaraz’s Spanish II students. She thinks that Almaraz provides a greater understanding when it comes to learning Spanish.

“She {Almaraz} is a great teacher,” Blankenship said. “I’m learning a lot with her and she knows how to teach Spanish very well. Theres a lot more classwork, but we do different activities than the ones Senora had.”

This writer can be reached via Twitter @mattgarza2017.