Lucy Arroyo is a 1st-grade teacher at Pleasantdale Elementary School in District 107. She answered these questions in her classroom.
Q: Where do you live?
A: New Lenox
Q; Where did you grow up?
A: Blue Island
Q: How long have you been a teacher?
A: Since 2001 at Pleasantdale, three years before that in Blue Island.
Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?
A: From the get-go, I always wanted to be a teacher. I would always play school. My sister was older so she always got to be the teacher. My mom has audiocassettes of us playing school. I grew up and got to do it in real life.
Q: Tell us about your job?
A: I job share. When I went on maternity leave, we did the transition seamlessly. We each do full days. We have been doing it for seven years. I love coming here every day.
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Q: Do you have any children?
A: I have a son in 4th grade and a daughter in 2nd grade. Being a teacher mom is tough. I find myself saying “That is not how I would do it.”
Q: How about pets?
A: No. We lost our dog in June. It was 13 and a rescue dog. We are still adjusting. We will get another Brittany spaniel at some point.
Q: What reality show would you be on?
A: “The Real Housewives.” Not that my life is anything like theirs. I think watching the things I try to accomplish while balancing everything would be hilarious.
Q: Who would play you in a movie about your life?
A: Gwyneth Paltrow. She is my favorite actress.
Q: What is your favorite charity?
A: St. Jude Children Research Hospital. My kids’ school does a lot with St. Jude’s and we used to do a lot here at Pleasantdale with St. Jude’s. They make it easy for kids to participate and to help.
Q: What is your favorite store?
A: Target. They have everything..
Q: Favorite restaurant?
A: Francesca’s. I am 100 percent Italian. Nothing matches my mom’s cooking, but Francesca’s comes close. There are like 10 Francescas. My husband and I want to hit them all, but that’s a lot of baby sitter nights.
Q: What words of wisdom would you share?
A: Live in the present and take time to enjoy things for what they are. I have to remind myself of those things.
Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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