One of the most revered faces in the changing halls of Cinnaminson High School is substitute, Mrs. Carol Loza. Although many know who Mrs. Loza is, not many know about who she was before she became a permanent substitute at CHS.

Mrs. Loza (Ms. Kiester) was born in Slippery Rock, PA where she went to high school.  She later studied education at Slippery Rock University and graduated with a degree in education. Growing up in Slippery Rock, “In some respects was very very boring and so that’s like “boring Cinnaminson” but there were also things we got to do… we kind of just made our own entertainment, and that’s what you have to do here,” Mrs. Loza explained.

Mrs. Loza found entertainment in her hobbies, which consisted of water skiing, horseback riding, and baton twirling. While growing up, Mrs. Loza performed with a group called the Grove City Plaidettes. “We traveled all over the United States. We went to the Orange bowl in Florida, we went to Canada, and Chicago. We went to all those places and we performed and we were really good,” Mrs. Loza explained. The team wore plaid skirts following an Irish and Scottish theme. Mrs. Loza claimed that the unique aspect of The Plaidettes, were their bagpipes. In the Plaidettes, Mrs. Loza was a baton twirler.

She became interested in baton twirling when her friend introduced her to it. Being a part of the Grove City Plaidettes helped Mrs. Loza to see the country while she was a junior on the cusp of her senior year.

While in Slippery Rock and not on tour around the country, Mrs. Loza still lived an interesting life. Growing up, children tend to ask for a pony, but never receive one, however Mrs. Loza grew up with two horses of her own. “My dad had a friend who had a farm and no kids, and he liked having kids around so all we had to do was pay for feed… [owning a horse] was less expensive than it was today,” Mrs. Loza explained.

Originally the horse was a present for her sick sister, but Mrs. Loza herself soon became the sole owner after her sister fell off of it. “I had to work the horse out. And then I found out it was actually a really good thing because it got her another horse, and then there were two horses so my boyfriend could ride too.”

The horses, along with Mrs. Loza, did not remain on the farm however, they were ridden around town as casually as bicycles. “My cousin and I would tie our horses up to the parking meters and put money in. That would really upset the police officers, but I like to have a little fun,” she said.

Growing up she had four sisters and one brother, she being the eldest sibling. Already used to having a large family, she followed in her mother’s footsteps and had 9 children. Along with her children, she is very lucky to call herself a grandmother to 12 grandkids.

Ms. Kiester became Mrs. Loza when she married Wally Loza. After moving to Philadelphia for work, the Lozas then moved to Delran, New Jersey. After another work transfer, they ended up living in Willingboro very shortly because, “we actually had a fire the morning after we moved in, so that’s actually why we moved to Cinnaminson,” and as Loza explained, they have been in Cinnaminson ever since.

Mrs. Loza’s children all attended and graduated from Cinnaminson High School. Along with her children, she is very lucky to call herself a grandmother to 12 grandchildren. Even after the last Loza graduated in 1996, it would not be the last time a Loza was seen at CHS.

Mrs. Loza began working as a permanent substitute in 1985 and has been working at CHS ever since. Although she has been teaching for 30 years since 1985, Mrs. Loza states, “I don’t plan on retiring. I love the kinds and I loved high school myself.” She would like to see the renovations to the new building before she even thinks about leaving.

Mrs. Loza loves all the students here at CHS. She says that the students teach her a lot of things, “Everyone can learn and there are good qualities in everyone.”

Mrs. Loza has put a lot of hard work and dedication into her students and job. One way to repay her is to wish her a happy birthday on her real birthday, which just so happens to be on June 28, 1942.