Mrs. Adrian Schellbach might be new to the Lake Highland faculty, but she is definitely not new to the Lake Highland community. As an alum of Lake Highland, Mrs. Schellbach has a deep connection to our school. She once walked these same hallways as a student. Now, she returns, but this time as a teacher, a wife, and a mom.
Looking back on her time as a student, she remembers it being rewarding yet challenging, much like it is today, stating, “My experience was probably no different than most students now. I was constantly working hard to keep up with school and my extracurricular activities. Teachers were always pushing students to be better inside and outside of the classroom.” Mrs. Schellbach also mentions that learning time management was a big part of her experience as a student at LHP, stating that, “It’s a skill that’s undervalued by many when reaching adulthood.”
After high school, Mrs. Schellbach went on to continue her education at the University of Virginia, where she earned her undergraduate degree. She also spent time studying abroad in Spain. While she enjoyed her time up north and abroad, it didn’t take long for her to realize something: she missed home. “I realized quickly that I’m a true Florida girl that can’t stand the cold,” says Mrs. Schellbach. “This made moving back to Florida an easy decision,” she added. Soon after, that decision brought her back to Lake Highland, this time as a faculty member. She states that one of the main reasons she wanted to come back was the impressive academics that LHP has to offer. “The quality of education at LHP is unmatched, so I knew it would challenge me as an educator to meet that standard,” she said. She added, “I’m always looking for ways to improve, and being surrounded by the best faculty in Central Florida was a great way to do so.”
Additionally, there is another huge reason why she came back to her LHP roots: family. Before LHP, she worked for the Orange County school district. However, her husband, Mr. Calvin Schellbach, was already a part of the Lake Highland family, and their daughter, Shay, just started preschool at Lake Highland. Now, the whole family gets the blessing to come to school together every day. “It’s a Schellbach car ride to and from school every day. “That’s an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” she stated. Working at the same school as her husband who works as the school’s photographer has been amazing, stating, “He’s my best friend. So the fact that I now can spend even more time with him is the best possible scenario I could imagine.” And having her daughter start her own journey here makes everything even more heartwarming. “It means the world,” Mrs. Schellbach stated, “I know she’s getting the best possible education in Orlando. I’m a little bitter, as she still refers to it as ‘daddy’s school’ since Mr. Schellbach worked here before I did, but hopefully she’ll learn that it’s really mommy’s school,” Mrs. Schellbach pointed out.
At LHP, Mrs. Schellbach teaches AP Government, and her passion for it shines through her teaching. “I’ve always enjoyed teaching AP classes,” she stated, adding, “Government is obviously the most relevant class you can take right now. Considering the current political climate, it’s important for all students to develop an understanding of the U.S. government’s design as well as the intent of the founders with the Constitution.”
Although she’s now a teacher, Mrs. Schellbach still feels connected to her time here as a student. Mrs. Schellbach said, “It’s surreal at times.” She noted the fact that she is, “Constantly reminiscing about my experiences, and sometimes it feels like I’m in a time warp. Whenever the Rex Building bells chime, I have a split-second thought that I’m going to be late to class… then I remember I’m an adult now, and the schedule is completely different.” So far, her favorite part about teaching at Lake Highland has been her students. She explained, “I’ve been consistently impressed by the work ethic of Lake Highland students and their desire to learn. It makes me so happy to see that that tradition has continued.”
As an alumna of LHP, and while seeing present students in her shoes, Mrs. Schellbach urges students to, “Try something new.” She admitted that she’s, “Blown away by the opportunities that exist for students; don’t be afraid to use them! The schedule is designed for you to be involved in more than just one thing. If you’re an athlete or in the performing arts, you can still be involved in clubs. Take advantage.” From LHP student to LHP teacher, Mrs. Schellbach’s Lake Highland story has truly come full circle. Now, she’s helping create new opportunities and stories for the next generation of Lake Highland students just like she once was.
