Wiley PTA Welcomes Madame Penny

The first day of school is right around the corner, and this year we are welcoming several new teachers joining the Wiley team. We are so excited these talented folks will be teaching and leading our kids this year! Our parent volunteers have interviewed each new teacher so we can learn a little more about who they are and what makes them so passionate about teaching. Please help us welcome them to the Wiley family!

In this interview, Wiley mom Lauren Pritchett speaks to Wiley's new French teacher Madame Erica Penny.

Tell us a little bit about who you are and where you were before you got to Wiley.

I'm originally from upstate New York but have lived in North Carolina for more than twenty years.  I began my career teaching high school French in New York, but when I moved down to North Carolina, I began teaching elementary school music.  I then returned to graduate school to get my degree in school counseling.  I am married and have two teenage boys.  I stayed home with them when they were young, and I've been a school counselor for the past ten years.  I decided this was the year to mix things up a little bit.  That's when I noticed the French position open at Wiley, and I was so excited by this opportunity.

What made you want to teach French? 

It all began when my parents took me as a teenager to France, and I absolutely loved it.  I loved the language, the people, the food, the relaxed way of living, the history, the scenery, and so much more.  I loved it so much that I returned as a high school exchange student to Normandy, studied French in college, and was a nanny in the south of France for two summers.

Do you have a favorite teacher, and can you tell us what they taught you?

My favorite teacher of all time was my high school biology teacher.  She was firm, loving, had very high expectations, taught us how to take notes, how to study, and how to give each project our all.  I don't think it would have mattered what subject matter she taught us.  Her influence certainly didn't lead me into a career in biology, but she influenced the way I learn and the way I work.

What do you love about teaching French to kids?

I love that learning a different language and about different cultures opens our eyes to the world and allows us to see other people, other foods, other cultures, and other ways of thinking in a new light.  Teaching French to kids is about so much more than just learning a language, it's learning that the world is bigger than our own city and appreciating the similarities and differences we share with the world.

What do you think most people don’t know about French culture? What is the most surprising thing new students learn about French culture?

Most people think of the country of France when you mention the French language/culture, but they often don't realize that French is the official language in 29 different countries all around the world.  French is the official language of the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, and of the Olympics.  The most populous French-speaking city is not Paris, surprisingly, it's Kinsasha (the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo).  So, the culture of the French-speaking world is vast and varied.

What is the most important thing kids can bring to your class? 

If students come to my class with the intention of being kind toward others and the willingness to try, they will be successful.  

Where is the next place that you really want to travel? 

I just returned from an amazing trip to Europe this summer, so I hate to be greedy for more travel so soon, but I dream of going to Alaska, India, and on an African safari someday.

Is there anything else you’d like the Wiley community to know about you?

I'm very excited to join the Wiley community and can't wait to meet everyone!