By Ava Cassidy, Staff Writer
The fifth grade pod is a bright, happy place–even at 7:30 in the morning. This joy stems from middle school reading and English teacher Mrs. Anne Riegle, who will be retiring after this school year. She has been a shining influence for Harpeth Hall’s community and brightens the day of everyone around her, whether they are a student of her’s or not.
The fifth grade pod is a bright, happy place–even at 7:30 in the morning. This joy stems from middle school reading and English teacher Mrs. Anne Riegle, who will be retiring after this school year. She has been a shining influence for Harpeth Hall’s community and brightens the day of everyone around her, whether they are a student of her’s or not.
In the fall of 2006, Mrs. Riegle came to Harpeth Hall to teach 5th grade Reading and English. She continued to teach the same courses for 15 years. Previously, she taught 5th grade Writing and American History for 7 years at Oak Hill. According to Mrs. Riegle, Harpeth Hall stood out to her “because I had seen it in action with my own daughter… I appreciate Harpeth Hall’s focus on girls and recognition that girls learn differently… for that matter that every individual learns differently.”
Mrs. Riegle is also the fifth graders’ number one cheerleader. In addition to coaching Green Team Soccer, she is a fan of all 5th and 6th grade sports. Thanks to this, Mrs. Riegle’s students see how invested she is in their lives outside of the classroom. Mrs. Riegle has also been involved on the SEEK committee.
One of her favorite memories is the solar eclipse viewing at Harpeth Hall in Aug. 2017. “The sense of being with your students, colleagues, and families all in one place, lying on a blanket looking at the sky, and watching an important historical event was breathtaking. The anticipation, the shared experience, the quiet of the moment, and the excited discussions afterward will remain in my memory forever!” Mrs. Riegle said.
Her colleagues in the 5th grade teaching department also have wonderful memories of Mrs Riegle’s time at Harpeth Hall. “[My] favorite memory is acting out a proper etiquette role play for Grandparent’s day for 5th graders every year, in which Mrs. Riegle is ‘Gam-Gam’ and I am ‘Little Trish.’ ‘Gam-Gam’ pinches ‘Little Trish’s’ cheeks frequently calling her ‘Honey Precious Darlin’ in her crackly voice as she unsteadily shuffles around the pod… the kids love it!” Middle school reading and english teacher Mrs. Trisha McNally said.
“Mrs. Riegle impacts not only every 5th grader that walks through the door, but also each of her colleagues. She has a true gift for teaching Reading and Writing and continuously inspires me to grow as a teacher! She challenges the kids and her colleagues to push themselves beyond their comfort zone to reach their full potential. Settling for ‘mediocre’ is never an option for Mrs. Riegle. Whether it’s singing a verb song, or reading on the rug, she makes reading and writing exciting,” Mrs. McNally said, “I have watched Mrs. Riegle in action as she cares for her students, and knows the perfect words to encourage them to grow. She makes time for every student and colleague as long as she has had her cup of coffee. There is no one like Mrs. Riegle, and I am thankful for the privilege to be her friend and to have worked with her.”
Mrs. McNally perfectly sums up Harpeth Hall’s attitude towards Mrs. Riegle. Enjoy retirement, Mrs. Riegle, you’ve earned it!
