Ms. Amanda Noda-Tennant is one of the nine new teachers at Cinnaminson High School this year. At 47 years old, Noda-Tennant brings over 12 years of teaching experience with her. Specializing in Spanish, she has taught Spanish in other subject areas as well, such as ESL, math, social studies, and science.
Noda-Tennant’s journey to teaching began during her college years when she discovered her passion for tutoring Spanish. This inspiration led her to seek a career in education. Before beginning at CHS, she worked in a family service in Camden, teaching undocumented children until they could reunite with their families. This experience honed her teaching skills and deepened her commitment to helping students from diverse backgrounds.
“I chose CHS because I heard so many good things about the district, [it’s] close to my house which is also a plus – short commute – and I missed being in a public school setting.”
Noda-Tennant understands how education can be transformative. She said she loves that “lightbulb moment” when a student understands a concept and can engage in meaningful conversations.
In teaching Spanish, Noda-Tennant said she emphasizes the importance of being able to communicate in another language, not just for academic success, but for personal growth and cultural appreciation.
“Say I’m teaching a tough grammar lesson and then I see that kind of that lightbulb moment when the kids get it and they’re able to respond and have conversations using that.”
Her approach to teaching includes forming strong relationships with her students and colleagues. She said she is committed to supporting her students and is willing to give up her time to ensure they have a successful year. She engages with students in one-on-one meetings, recognizing that communication is key to student success.
In joining the CHS community, she knows it is important to collaborate with her colleagues to address any challenges in the classroom. In doing so, she can help foster a supportive learning environment for her students. She recalls a former student who made a lifelong impact on her.
“One student I had was from Guatemala so he spoke very little Spanish, in an indigenous language, Quiche. But living in the shelter with the other kids who spoke Spanish and talking to me too, he picked up Spanish a lot. So he spoke Spanish very well, but I’ll never forget I had them doing a reading assignment, he had probably been with us for two to three months, and we were practicing reading and I had him reading and another staff member came into the classroom, and was floored at how well he was reading in English. It was a very emotional moment for me that I could never forget.”
With her passion for education and her commitment to fostering a supportive community, Noda-Tennant is excited to embark on this new journey at Cinnaminson High School, inspiring the next generation of learners.
