My name is Leslie Barger.  I am a native of Caldwell County and a lifelong learner. I obtained my National Board Certification as a Spanish Teacher in 2008. I graduated from Appalachian State University with a Master’s degree in Romance Languages with a Concentration in Spanish Education (K-12), a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, and a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Education (K-12). Before transferring to Appalachian State University, I completed two transfer degrees from Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI), including an Associate of Arts degree and an Associate of Science degree. I have had the opportunity to teach Spanish at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels, while also teaching Spanish for Business and Industry through Caldwell Community College and Alamance Community College. I also had the unique opportunity to work in the business sector as the Director, Corporate Training in the furniture industry. I have also worked as the Assistant Director of TRIO-Educational Talent Search (TRIO-ETS) at CCC&TI, providing college information to middle and high school students. I have dedicated my life to helping others achieve their dreams through education. In my Spanish classes, I strive to help students succeed by helping them develop second language skills for a globally competitive economy, as well as showing them the professional (job) and personal (intellectual, travel, & friendship) opportunities they have with learning a second language, while emphasizing the importance of education. 

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and dogs, playing the piano, singing, writing music, hiking, bicycling, and camping. I have had the opportunity to work with wonderfully talented people throughout my career! I began working at the Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy (CASA) in 2015, and I am excited to be here!  Currently, I teach Spanish I and II at CASA; however, I have taught Spanish III and IV at West Caldwell High School, as well. 

I primarily speak Spanish in my classes, so my students will learn to "decode" the language, training their minds to comprehend and speak Spanish more effectively and fluently. I also provide authentic Spanish learning resources through videos, music, short stories, and poems. I am thrilled to see the amazing learning opportunities, which CASA offers our students, including Project-Based Learning activities within their specific academies and in Spanish class. I enjoy working with high school students and seeing their eyes light up when they understand and can actually communicate in Spanish. I love watching my students learn and grow in Spanish, so they may continue their pursuits of language learning at a 4-year university, online, or through immersion in another country. Opening doors and opportunities for my students, as well as fostering the love of learning about different cultures and languages, are my goals.

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