Hello! My name is Jaycee DeSimone, but I will go by Profe DeSimone to students. I’m so excited to begin my first year at C2E! This will be my fifth year teaching, and my very first year in middle school. For the past four years, I’ve taught high school Spanish, and I’m looking forward to this new adventure.
I was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, and my love for Spanish began in middle school. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to learn and grow through many experiences—from traditional coursework and university studies to internships in dual-language classrooms and under college professors, as well as traveling and living abroad.
One of the highlights of my teaching career so far has been leading students on an immersive trip to Costa Rica. They spent a week exploring the country, followed by a week living with host families and attending a local high school. That experience grew into an exchange program, where Costa Rican students later traveled to Colorado to study and stay with host families for two weeks. It was an incredible opportunity for both groups of students, and I hope to bring similar experiences to our community here at C2E.
When it comes to my teaching philosophy, I focus on comprehensible input. That means using Spanish in ways that students can understand and build upon. This means our class is conducted mostly in Spanish, and students are encouraged to stay actively engaged so they can get the most out of the experience.
I also believe it’s important to teach grammar explicitly, so students can see how the patterns of Spanish work. In fact, this often helps them strengthen their understanding of English as well.
Above all, I believe that every student is capable of learning a language. Some may find it comes naturally, while others may need to put in a bit more effort, but all students can succeed. I encourage you to remind your student to come to class with this positive, growth-oriented mindset!
Additionally, I enjoy travel both for leisure and as extracurricular activity. I have led three school trips and have seen six countries with over 80 students in my career. Outside of school, I enjoy biking, pickleball, and golf. I love sports and staying active and love getting away to the mountains whenever I can.
I can't wait for this year at C2E. I know it will be a great one!