Spanish teacher Terri Salsman de Rodriguex will be ending her 32-year tenure at Los Altos High School. Despite her campus fame, few know that she only found the school through a chance encounter.
After teaching at an American high school in Mexico and at her alma mater Saint Francis High School from 1986 to 1993, she wanted to find a Bay Area public school. After facing rejection from job recruiters, LAHS gave her a second try.
“At the time, I didn’t know a lot about Los Altos,” Salsman de Rodriguex said. “I was jet lagged from a trip to Thailand, and my one public school application had fallen through. I needed to find a job, and there was an opening at the last minute. I lucked out.”
But once she started, Salsman de Rodriguex found that LAHS was a perfect fit. Combining education with passion, she transformed and revitalized the World Language department.
“We hosted World Language days, where we did a week-long celebration of language and culture,” Salsman de Rodriguex said. “Watching the different mini-departments come together was really meaningful to me.”
Salsman de Rodriguex was also a mentor to new teachers, teaching them the ins and outs of campus life.
“When I was a new teacher, being in a new environment was scary,” Spanish teacher Dayana Swank said. “She was a role model — not just as a fellow teacher, but as a friend.”
In the classroom, Salsman de Rodriguex prioritized a hands-on approach to teaching by emphasizing participation, making class more entertaining and engaging.
“She likes to prompt us with on-the-spot questions and jokes,” junior Avni Rajagopal said. “Through casual conversations, we’re learning the language without necessarily having to learn specific vocabulary.”
Her love for her students didn’t stop in Spanish classes; as National Honor Society adviser, she supported students through mentorship and leadership opportunities.
“Kids often have too much on their plate,” Salsman de Rodriguex said. “It’s important to be vulnerable and open to talk about stress. Through NHS, kids can learn from one another and grow as leaders.”
Though she holds many roles on campus, Salsman de Rodriguex hopes her legacy goes beyond the classroom. Just as she found LAHS and fell in love with it, she hopes her students can discover that same sense of joy and connection through learning.
“Our department will feel empty when she’s gone,” Swank said. “During the pandemic, she created our slides and curriculum. She’s someone who really cares.”
“Having the ability to explore complicated topics at school helped me grow as a teacher and person,” Salsman de Rodriguex said. “Watching students learn and develop — those are some of my fondest memories.”
Salsman de Rodriguex hopes to spend her retirement years with her family and her dog, Paca Mia. Though she may have chosen LAHS on a whim, she looks back with no regrets.
“Don’t sweat the little things,” Salsman de Rodriguex said. “Definitely try to see the big picture first. Everything happens for a reason.”
