Sierra Huebert-Sanchez is currently in her fourth year of teaching at HPA, and her seventh year of teaching overall. Before joining HPA, Huebert-Sanchez worked at an international school in Singapore. She was born and raised in Chonburi, Thailand, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Education at Tabor College, where she played collegiate basketball and soccer.
At HPA, Huebert-Sanchez teaches AP English Language and Composition, Multicultural Literature, and a capstone class focused on Social Justice. In addition to teaching, she is the head coach of the varsity girls’ cross-country and basketball teams, as well as a dorm parent in residential life and the sponsor of HPA’s Christian club.
Who or what influenced your love of literature?
Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, and my mother played a pivotal role in this. As a high school English teacher herself, she instilled in me a habit of reading from a young age, albeit rather sneakily. Oftentimes, when I would misbehave, the consequence was to read a book instead of doing something “fun.” At the time, I resented it, but looking back, I can’t help but appreciate how that “punishment” shaped my love for books. So much so, when it came time to decide my career, I went into it with the mindset of: how can I get paid to read books? Hence, teaching English 🙂
What books are your students reading this year in AP Literature, and do you have any favorite books or authors in the mix?
In my classes, we read Thoreau’s Walden, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Carson’s Silent Spring, Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, Orange’s There There, and more! Of these, my personal favorite to teach is The Great Gatsby. Students seem to really enjoy exploring the hedonism of the Roaring Twenties and examining themes such as the disillusionment of the American Dream. A good love story—filled with passion and heartbreak—makes for a crowd favorite too.
How do you think your students would describe your teaching style?
My students might describe me as tough but fair. I try to strike a healthy balance between maintaining high expectations while being kind and supportive. Ultimately, my goal is to create a classroom environment that challenges students while fostering their growth and confidence.
What do you enjoy doing outside the classroom?
Outside of the classroom, I love coaching. This year, our girls’ cross country team won the state championship! Coaching is so much more than wins and losses though; it’s about the life lessons you learn along the way: teamwork, grit, communication, perseverance, discipline, integrity, and so much more. I love watching kids grow through sports. It was extra special to be able to coach with my fiancé Casey Trautwein this year!
Coaching basketball is probably one of my biggest passions in life. I have played basketball for as long as I can remember and was lucky enough to have my dad as my coach. Some of my favorite memories growing up are the post-game car rides, where we would meticulously debrief our games. He taught me the x’s and o’s of how to run an offense and the importance of a good press. But more than that, he taught me how to be tough and fight through adversity, how to be a good winner and loser, and how to work hard toward a goal.