Energetic Students Keep Teacher Going!
Rachel Roche teaches 8th grade reading and writing at M.C. Cash Elementary. This is her ninth year teaching and her fourth year for 8th grade.
Roche is an Arizona native who grew up in the Valley and attended NAU. She planned to major in political sciences before deciding it was not for her. Roche says she did not like school when she was a kid, but she liked to read and be on her own. She still loves reading and enjoys fantasy books, true crime and thrillers by British authors Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell.
“I love trying to get my students to love reading,” she says. It can be a matter of finding the right interest, according to Roche.
Roche also coaches volleyball at Cash. This is her fifth year coaching a coed team. She says she can be a little more silly on the court than she is in the classroom, but she strives to be even keeled in both roles. “Consistency is important,” she notes. Roche adds that for kids who see her as both teacher and coach, “It helps build a relationship with them (that yields) more benefits in the classroom.” Roche says she wants students to feel that she is approachable.
“My teacher is the best because if we are feeling down she makes sure that we are ok,” writes Karina. “She make a huge impact on me and she motivates me.”
With a school near the desert, Roche says there are always lizards in class. She says some 4th grade students from years ago still recall when the class found a dead gecko and buried it.
Roche hopes that whatever students try, that they put their best foot forward. “I tell them to be brave in the attempt,” says Roche. “You don’t have to get it right the first time, but be brave in the attempt.”
She says her students might be surprised to learn that when she was younger, she participated in Irish step dancing. These days, it is her students who keep her on her toes! Roche says she feels energized by her students. “They give me life,” she says, and adds that it’s a testament to her students that she can do her best. “The best side of me is because of the energy my students give me.”
50 Valley Locations–Find Yours at BOSADONUTSAZ.COM
PHOENIX
19th Ave & Pinnacle Peak
1900 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd #101
623-404-9999
44th St & Washington
125 N 44th Street, #100
623-899-6666
7th & Union Hills
710 E. Union Hills
623-388-6656
32nd St & Shea
10876 N. 32nd St
602-569-5556
37th St & Indian School
3722 E. Indian School Rd
602-955-5575
Central & Clarendon
3701 N. Central Ave
602-888-8999
2211 W. Camelback #186
602-368-4477
Bell Rd & Tatum
4601 E. Bell Rd, Ste A5
602-603-3892
4th St & Jackson
310 S 4th St, Ste 100
602-888-8666
1st Ave & Monroe
101 N 1st Ave, Ste 100
602-888-8777
3rd St & Fillmore
455 N 3rd St, Ste 1195
602-888-8555
35th Ave & Southern
6360 S. 35th Ave
602-702-6888
PEORIA
75th Ave & Cactus
7446 W Cactus Rd
623-334-0506
225 Lake Pleasant #1220
623-226-7777
GLENDALE
Glendale Ave & Litchfield Rd
13820 W Glendale Ave
623-271-7191
SCOTTSDALE
74th St & McDowell
7444 E McDowell Rd
480-990-1398
CHANDLER
Dobson & Elliott
2990 N Dobson Rd
480-899-4999
Arizona Ave & Galveston
655 N Arizona Ave
480-899-7134
Arizona Ave & Ocotillo
4015 S Arizona Ave
480-895-8955
MESA
Country Club & Southern
1144 S Country Club Dr
480-844-6181
Mesa Riverview
805 N Dobson Rd, Ste 108
480-699-0066
Greenfield & University
4418 E. University, Ste 101
480-448-9999
9248 E. Cadence Pkwy
623-313-6814
CASA GRANDE
Florence Blvd. & Arizola Rd.
1659 E. Florence Blvd
520-876-9266
GILBERT
Val Vista & Queen Creek
4844 S Val Vista Dr
480-699-9084
Gilbert & Williams Field Rd
155 E Williams Field Rd
480-814-1681
Val Vista & Elliot
130 S Val Vista Dr, #E1
480-699-2229
Higley & Baseline
1614 N Higley Rd
480-699-9962
Higley & Williams Field Rd
3305 E Williams Field Rd, Ste 104
480-275-5044
QUEEN CREEK
Power Rd & Chandler Heights
23858 S. Power Rd
480-699-9579
SURPRISE
Reems & Greenway
15261 N Reems Rd, Ste 104
623-404-8888
17061 Ave. of Art
623-404-5555
PRESCOTT
Gurley & Pleasant
415 E. Gurley St
828-237-9999
SAN TAN VALLEY
Combs & Gantzel
37591 N. Gantzel Rd, #100
480-699-6884
LAVEEN
Combs & Gantzel
5845 W. Baseline #100
602-257-6666
