Apex High School received some new staff this year! I interviewed Mrs. Fruehauf, the new social studies teacher, to learn more about her as a person and a teacher.

Name- Patricia Fruehauf

1. Where are you from?

I’m from Georgia, but I went to Auburn University in Alabama. My whole family went there.

2. Are you single or married?

I’m married.

3. Do you have any pets or kids?

I have three children. My oldest daughter Caroline graduated from Apex in 2016, and my son Duke graduated in 2018, and my other daughter Kate is a sophomore at Apex now. I have two pets, a cat named Tuxy because she’s a tuxedo cat and a dog named Boomer. He’s an English retriever, essentially a golden retriever that’s cream colored.

4. What are your hobbies?

I love to read. I love to be entertained in general, whether it’s a book, a movie, or netflix. I try to come to all of the plays and musicals here at school too; they do a good job.

5. What did you do prior to coming to Apex?

I taught for almost four years before I had my first baby. After that I was a stay-at-home mom. I spent a ton of time volunteering at schools at the elementary level on the PTA and doing fundraising. I did the same thing at Lufkin, too. I was also president of the booster club since my kids were all athletic. Here at Apex I was actually the team mom for football and basketball. I helped with concessions. 

6. What made you want to become a teacher?

I come from a family of teachers; my mom, my aunts, they’re all teachers. It was just one of those things that I just fell into. When I was in high school, I was in drama in theater, and if you think about it being a teacher is a little bit about being a performer. You’re trying to keep people interested and engaged. Even when I was a little girl, my mom would buy me little workbooks and I would “teach”. She even bought me a big chalkboard. I played school all the time. Sometimes I would try to rope in my siblings or neighbors to come be my students, and they would all run the other way. 

7. Why did you choose to teach history and English?

It’s entertaining to me. I love to read about history. I had a history professor who could imitate all of the presidents, and it was like watching entertainment tonight. He made me love the subject. English just came easy to me. 

8. Who is or has been an inspiration to you?

My drama-speech teacher was one of those teachers that made the class fun and really cared about her students. She was very active in our lives outside of class. If you played a sport she came out and watched you. She made you feel valued, not just as a student in her class. I really loved her. She inspired me because she really got to know her students and cared about them and went out of her way to make sure she saw them in an environment where they thrived and succeeded, especially if they were a student that didn’t thrive in the classroom. I try to make that effort with my students because of her and what she did. I feel like it changes the dynamics of the relationships with the students.

9. What advice would you give students?

Try your hardest, be the person you are, and don’t be ashamed. Embrace your diversity and individualism and be you; otherwise you can’t be happy. I don’t think you’ll ever be happy unless you embrace who you are and love yourself. 

Thank you, Mrs. Fruehauf, for allowing me to interview you. I wish you the best in your years to come at Apex!