Legend Alum Returns to Alma Mater to Teach Spanish

Kassidy Dunnigan is the first college graduate in her family! Thanks to an engaging teacher who made learning languages fun, Kassidy pursued a degree in Spanish education and returned to her alma mater to teach Spanish.

What is your name, which school did you attend, and what year did you graduate?
My name is Kassidy Dunnigan and I graduated from Legend High School in 2016.

What have you been doing since graduation?
I attended the University of Northern Colorado and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in K-12 Spanish Education. This is my second year teaching Spanish and my first year as a Spanish teacher at Legend. I have learned so much from my mentors and love teaching my amazing students!

What is your proudest achievement since graduating?
My proudest achievement is being the first in my family to graduate from college! My parents supported me so much throughout college and I am extremely grateful for that.

Share a positive memory from high school that sticks out to you.
I will always remember my Spanish classes with Señora Walsh. Her class was so much fun and engaging that I often forgot I was at school when I was in her class. I used to hang out in her classroom before and after school -- it was my favorite place in the entire building! A favorite memory is when I told Señora Walsh that I wanted to be a Spanish teacher during one of our weekly lunches together. She supported me so much throughout high school and she is the reason I’m where I am today. I am extremely thankful for Señora Walsh’s support and guidance.

What was one unique thing you learned about yourself during high school? How did your teachers and school support you?
I learned to look to my support system for help during challenging times. I struggled with anxiety in high school and I had a hard time with public speaking. Señora Walsh helped me overcome my fears and whenever I said I was going to do badly at a speaking assessment for Spanish, she would say "Well, with that attitude you will!" Her words of encouragement have stuck with me, and I often share those with my students.

What advice would you give your 15-year-old self?
I learned in college that mistakes provide an opportunity to grow. Realizing this helped me through difficult times as a college student. Understanding that mistakes can be a valuable tool would have benefitted me in my younger years.

What skill (professional or personal) are you trying to master?
In my professional life, I’m always striving to improve my instructional strategies to keep my students engaged. In my personal life, I want to learn a third language someday! I love learning new things!

What are your future plans?
I plan to continue teaching at Legend and to hopefully travel to a Spanish-speaking country for a while over the summer.