As AI increasingly shapes education, it’s important to emphasize a timeless, effective teaching tool: high-quality, in-person relationships with students. I first experienced this with my high school Spanish teacher, known simply as Señora, the respected matriarch of our Spanish department. Señora began class by asking, “¿Qué hay de nuevo?” (What’s new?), engaging with students about recent events like swim meets or band concerts. She gently uncovered the latest gossip, creating a warm, conversational environment that made learning Spanish feel natural and enjoyable. Later, as a high school Spanish teacher myself, I realized Señora was doing much more than teaching language skills—she was deeply attentive to her students’ emotional states, noting who was quiet or struggling. Her classroom was a lively hub where she presided from her tall stool, coffee mug in hand, adorned with her favorite phrases “Es mi mundo” (It’s my world) and “Todo es posible, nada es seguro” (Everything is possible, nothing is certain). Alongside language lessons, memorable moments included stories from her travels across Latin America, like interpreting for an Airstream caravan and sleeping in the ruins of Machu Picchu, transporting us far beyond our Wisconsin classroom. Despite completing the school’s Spanish program, my friends and I once asked Señora to teach “Spanish 6, ” and without hesitation she gave up her planning period to help us—a sacrifice I only appreciated fully as a fellow teacher. During these sessions, especially on Wednesdays working entirely in Spanish from her “Book of Questions, ” we shared not only language but her candid views on topics like soulmates, tattoos, and travel. Señora’s true strength lay in building authentic interactions, the “original AI, ” forging real human connections rather than chasing educational technology trends.

Sadly, cancer forced her to leave teaching prematurely. Years later, her classroom closet remained untouched “por si acaso” — just in case she returned, as colleagues hoped. When I visited the closet with a friend, poring over her papers, lesson plans, and labeled folders, we felt her presence. I took originals of her worksheets and transparencies to bolster my own teaching confidence, as well as her books, posters, and her cherished coffee mug. Back at my school, I revived her teaching style, even dusting off an overhead projector to use her materials verbatim. Although I didn’t avoid technology entirely, I prioritized the human connection she modeled. Starting class each day with “¿Qué hay de nuevo?” while sipping from Señora’s mug, I continued her practice of observing who seemed off and following up personally—engaging in ways no bot ever could. This powerful blend of language instruction and genuine care remains an irreplaceable teaching tool amidst AI’s rise.