The 2025-2026 school year at Gretna High School introduced a few new teachers, including Carter Plum in the Spanish department. He currently teaches Spanish I and Spanish II.
“I wanted to be a teacher because, first of all, I have a passion for Spanish,” Plum said. “So I wanted to be able to teach other kids who want to learn Spanish, because it’s very hard to come by Spanish teachers who actually know how to teach it.”
Many students find it easier to communicate and relate to younger educators.
“He makes a lot of jokes and makes things more like games, and makes it easier to, like, have more fun since he’s younger and he gets like what we’re talking about,” sophomore Emma Sapienza said.
Plum goes beyond just teaching Spanish; he works to make the class engaging and enjoyable.
“He makes sure everyone really understands it, and he makes it fun,” sophomore Addisyn Spofford said.
Teaching in a way that sparks students’ interest makes the classroom environment more rewarding for many students.
“He was more, like, fun and laid back than what I thought, and he makes me excited to go to Spanish,” Sapienza said. “I like that he doesn’t really force things, and he just kind of still makes you do Spanish, but he makes it more engaging.”
More specifically, than just his love for teaching Spanish, he said he knew that he wanted to teach high school students.
“I feel like it’s a time where kids need a lot, a lot of support because high school is so hard like mentally and physically. All aspects of it,” Plum said. “I also like high school; they know the difference between right and wrong. They know what they’re supposed to be doing.”
Many people look up to those they view as role models and strive to be more like them and follow in their footsteps.
“Mrs. Twist was my Spanish teacher when I was in high school, and she prioritized you as a person over you as a student,” Plum said. “So my main reason for wanting to be a teacher, the main reason was to be a support system and be understanding for students because I know what it’s like.”
To Plum, it’s important to be there for his students and have their backs not only academically but in other ways too.
“Having somebody that students feel like understands them and is willing to vouch for them, that was another reason I wanted to become a teacher,” Plum said.
Plum’s class has made countless students feel more comfortable in learning an entirely new language.
“I’m not, like, afraid to mess up his class like I know he’ll help me,” Sapienza said.
Plum goes out of his way to make sure the students feel valued in their school.
“I want to make the students feel like they matter. So whether it’s saying hi to them in the hallway or I greet everybody at the door when they come in,” Plum said. “Letting them know their presence matters, that’s my thing.”
Being a teacher who makes students feel good and confident in school is super important to Plum.
“One thing I try to remind myself is when I think back on my high school experience and stuff like that, I don’t necessarily remember what I was taught, but I remember my teachers and how they made me feel,” Plum said.
Building connections with the students he teaches is a huge goal in his teaching career.
“I just think he connects with his students a lot more because he just lets us do a lot of things that are still Spanish related, but makes it more fun,” Sapienza said.
It’s safe to say that the new Spanish teacher has brought in new involvement in foreign languages for many of the GHS students.
“He’s amazing, muy bueno,” Spofford said.
