ST. HELEN CATHOLIC ACADEMY - HOWARD BEACH, QUEENS - EDITOR IN CHIEF: CLARA WIERZBICKI

Faculty Spotlight: Ms. Andino

Ms. Andino, the middle school ELA teacher at SHCA, has lightened our school community.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: ANDINO

10/6/20261 min read

Ms. Andino radiates a distinct warmth to the community; she demonstrates genuine care for her students and acts as the primary catalyst for their growth. In 2020, she briefly worked at St. Helen, where she grew attached to the students. However, she began working as a full-time teacher only last year: 2025. Since then, there has been a noticeable change in the environment at our school, especially clear in her classroom.

Ms. Andino currently teaches middle school English. Through the curriculum, she incorporates topics that explore the main ideas of Catholicism. “Faith naturally integrates into ELA because we're constantly exploring the human condition through literature,” she explains. “ When we study character motivations, moral choices, and themes of justice/forgiveness, I help students connect these to Catholic values and teachings.” The tight-knit community in the faculty and student body has supported her throughout the beginning of her journey at St. Helen. “The community at St. Helen's is warm and deeply rooted in faith and tradition. There's a strong sense of belonging here; students aren't just numbers and families aren't strangers,” Ms. Andino believes. In her classroom, she conveys this idea by treating every student with kindness and individualized attention.

Her deep passion for English–especially poetry–began during high school. She says, “I was captivated by the idea of words having such power. They can heal, inspire, challenge, and change the world.” By becoming a teacher, she learned that she could pass on that powerful ability to students, encouraging them to discover their own voice.

Beyond school hours, Ms. Andino is an avid baker. “ I love experimenting with new recipes - from cheesecake to bread to cookies,” she explains. She compares the precision of baking to language and writing. Additionally, the most exciting event of the school year for her is the 8th grade end-of-year trip: “Even though I've only known them for a month thus far, I've grown attached to this group.”

Ms. Andino has been with our school for a short amount of time, yet she continues to illuminate the atmosphere.