by Chloe Newton

The morning sun and smoke fill the classroom windows as French teacher and fifth-generation architect Dana Schenk shifts between her desks; her voice carries through the room. 

Her voice is full of the life lived between three countries. France has given her a love for language, Romania is where she grew up learning her first language and how to read and write, and America is where she has chosen to take her knowledge and share it with her students at Jeffersonville High School. 

She pauses mid-sentence to smile at her students’ careful pronunciation, her eyes lighting up and reflecting the same caring atmosphere that once welcomed her into new cultures.

Schenk has never let anything stand in the way of her dreams. Born in Romania, she moved to France and eventually to the United States, each travel and experience guided by her  “spirit of adventure.”

“Living in different countries teaches you a lot about yourself; you become the person who can survive in any environment,” she said.

The countries and cultures shaped her teaching style. When Schenk discusses the history of these countries, she is not just talking; she is drawing from her adventures and experiences, helping students connect beyond the classroom and curriculum. 

“Be curious about life and you’re going to get very far. No task or pathway is impossible as long as you’re curious.”

French Teacher Dana Schenk

In her class, learning goes beyond just pencil and paper. She allows students to apply French terms to real-world situations and history. Students complete projects such as building an apartment floor plan or creating personalized crests. 

“We try to put together as many skills as we can while we’re learning French, that’s how I make it fun and engaging.”

Her goal is not just to teach a language but to encourage students to “be citizens of the world, open their minds, and take more than just the language from my class.”

Students see that engagement firsthand. French II student Shane Adkins described her as a teacher who keeps lessons very interactive and interesting. 

“She talks about her culture a lot, and it feels like a first-hand experience.”

He points out why this class is different from other language classes he has taken because of her unique teaching style and lively feeling she brings to the class. 

“She’s just very expressive with her reactions and words. There’s no other way to put it,” he said.

This feeling and expressiveness have also had a lasting impact on colleagues. German teacher Lisa Stumler described feeling nervous when the previous French teacher left and Schenk came in. 

“I was worried – would the new French teacher even like me? But, instantly, I thought, ‘She’s wonderful’.”

The two took a trip together to Europe over the summer. The trip lasted two weeks, during which Stumler and Schenk helped each other while seeing all the fascinating places from their cultures. 

“She’s influenced me to pause more, to ask questions, to not jump to conclusions.”

Schenk’s philosophy and mindset carry the same courage and clarity she encourages in her students.

“Be curious about life and you’re going to get very far. No task or pathway is impossible as long as you’re curious. I don’t regret anything, I love my choices.”

The impact of this mindset carries beyond the classroom. Schenk recalled a student who once volunteered in Africa and had to rely on French to communicate.

“I felt so proud… he realized the importance of knowing a foreign language, and it just made my eyes light up. ”

In the classroom or abroad, Schenk’s students and peers describe her in the same way: expressive, passionate, and unforgettable. As one student described her, she was likened to a croissant, very layered and one of a kind.