Ms. Shinkle

There are 16 new teachers here at Rocky this year, including this language arts teacher, Saraswoti Shinkle.

Shinkle was adopted from Nepal at three months and has lived in Colorado ever since. “My family and I are all extremely close and love each other,” she said. Shinkle has two older brothers and a younger sister, as well as three biological brothers whom she came into contact with just a few years ago.

She aspires to write science fiction novels for young adults. English and teaching are Shinkle’s passion. Shinkle’s younger sister, whom she lives with, is a preschool teacher and her father was a teacher for 30 years. When her father passed away, school, English, and music were her anchors; it was her way of grieving. Writing and playing music was her way of letting her emotions out.

Shinkle says that teaching helped her to feel closer to her dad. She is loving Rocky so far. She says she has great support from her department and the kids are great. She loves to teach because she wants to inspire people, make connections with students, and help students to become better writers while having fun at the same time. In high school Shinkle was a part of forensics and the newspaper. She also took all the art classes and English classes that her school offered. “I was more of a nerd. I was quiet,” she added.

Though she wasn’t a social butterfly in high school, she enjoys teaching at Rocky and her students enjoy her. “She is entertaining, goofy, and fun,” says sophomore Cody Milan.

Sophomore Bethany Rush commented, “She is a genuine teacher and actually wants you to do well in class.”

If you see her, welcome Ms. Shinkle to the Pack.