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Auf Wiedersehen Ms. Zois!

After 30 years of teaching as a Sundevil, Ms. Gabriele Zois, an English teacher at MC, is retiring. Remembered by students as kind and passionate about whatever she was teaching, Zois will be missed by the MC community. 

“I will definitely miss being in my classroom and interacting with my students, [especially] seeing my students enjoying what they are learning and asking questions,” Zois said.

Photo Courtesy of Gabriele Zois

Zois originally began teaching at MC as a German teacher. Originally from Salzburg, Austria, she traveled to the United States and received her teaching credentials at the University of San Diego. 

After being immersed in American culture, Zois decided to switch over from teaching her native language to the most prominently spoken one in her new country. Ultimately, she transferred from the World Language Department at MC to the English Language Development. 

“It was a totally spontaneous decision as I wasn’t sure at the time what I wanted to do for a career. My major was English and my minor was German Literature. I also received a Master’s Degree in TESOL (Teaching English to speakers of other languages),” Zois said. 

“I never thought that I would be an English teacher since I was hired to be the new MC German teacher. I was part of the World Language Department for 18 years,” Zois said. 

Zois is especially glad to have worked with so many amazing staff members and students during her 30 years at MC.

“I am grateful for […] all the people on this campus who helped me during my teaching career including fellow teachers, administrators, teacher’s aids,  and the unsung heroes that make this school possible such as the custodial staff and groundskeepers,” Zois said. 

Reminiscing over time spent with students, Zois detailed the extent of her joy seeing students learn new material, as well as the pride she felt in being a key part to their education. She will forever remember seeing the light-bulbs go off in student’s heads during her teaching career. 

“I would say that my favorite moment was whenever we celebrated Oktoberfest with games and barbecue, did German [and] Bavarian dances in front of the classroom, and when my students brought home first prize from German Theater festival two years in a row,” Zois said. “I also loved it when my American students would host German students and then marvel at the cultural differences when they visited their German families.” 

Salzburg, Austria | Photo Courtesy of Globe Guide

After a long teaching career, Zois made the decision to retire so she could spend more time with her family and venture to new and exciting places.

“I am going to visit my extended family in Austria often. I also want to travel to other exotic places, hike, do yoga and learn new things,” Zois said. 

Zois will be missed by the MC community, especially by the many students who had the privilege of being in her class and the staff members who were blessed with her friendship. 

Written by Kate Heald

Hey, thanks for checking out my article! I am the Features section editor and run the Instagram account for The MC Sun (@themcsun). I am a senior at MC, and am so excited to be studying Journalism in the fall at a four-year college!

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