Goody Bags & Relationships are Keys to AP Testing Success at Fort Pierce Central High School!
Donuts and flowers among other icons were laid out as future name tags to be decorated by students in Mrs. Coffer’s AP Spanish class. “We were not sure exactly what the name tags were going to be used for, but we liked decorating them,” explains Senior Astrid Ayala-Arevalo, pictured above with Mrs. Coffer. Astrid chose a donut design on which to decorate her first name and initial of her last name. Mrs. Ela Coffer, a veteran Spanish teacher started making goody bags for her students when she started teaching AP. “The tests were so long that I did not want the students to be hungry,” shares Mrs. Coffer. On testing day, all students picked up their goody bags with decorated name tags attached from Assistant Principal Rivera’s office. “I was nervous, but I went in with confidence,” affirms Astrid.
“I feel the relationship you build with your students has a lot to do with how they perform in the test. I build their confidence because they have been told that AP is too hard. I do not get 100% passing all the time, but it is over 80% every time,” according to Mrs. Coffer.
Mrs. Coffer recalls the changes that she endured over the years teaching AP. ASAP has changed, “It is important to work with the students and show them that like anything in life, you can improve if you try” affirms Mrs. Coffer. “I was told many years ago that I would never be able to graduate from college because I was not able to communicate in English, but I learned to believe in myself, and I did it,” shares Mrs. Coffer. The bravery, confidence, and positivity Mrs. Coffer carries, transfers to empowering her students. Gracias, Mrs. Coffer.
Mrs. Coffer closed our conversation with fond memories of teaching with our Fort Pierce Central High School principal Mr. Gardner, as a younger educator, at St. Lucie West Middle School, known today as St. Lucie West K-8 School. Best wishes for another successful year in AP Spanish! Bravo!
