For the past 29 years at LFHS, Mrs. Ariel Landvick has embodied the Latin principle of “In Loco Parentis,” meaning “in the place of a parent.”  

“Whenever I say ‘my kids’ people don’t know whether I’m talking about my students or my own children. As teachers, we’re just a placekeeper until you get home, and we should be,” Mrs. Landvick said. “I think that having kids myself, a senior and a freshman girl, has made me a better teacher. I constantly think about how I would want my kids to be treated at their school, and I decide to treat my students the same.”

As she prepares to retire at the end of this school year, Mrs. Landvick leaves behind a legacy as a respected and approachable mentor who always encouraged those around her to grow, learn, and believe in themselves. She is known across campus for consistently going above and beyond to support her students both in and out of the classroom. 

A testament to Mrs. Landvick’s devotion is that she has attended every graduation ceremony––missing only one. Her deep investment in her student’s milestones and successes sets her apart from other teachers. 

“At the beginning of the school year, Mrs. Landvick asks the class which extracurriculars they are involved in and makes sure to attend one of each of them, whether that be a sporting event, play, or a concert,” junior Maddie Rode said. “She is always her students’ number one supporter.”

Although Mrs. Landvick didn’t originally intend to become a Latin teacher, she always knew that she wanted to teach. 

“I wanted to be a teacher and initially I thought about math––but then I got to pre calc––and that wasn’t gonna happen. I didn’t even find Latin until sophomore year in high school, and after that, everything just clicked. So, I went off to Saint Olaf college, a tiny school in Minnesota and they had a Latin program,” Mrs. Landvick said. “Even though teaching is hard and days can be long, I’m living my younger self’s dream.”

While Latin was once commonly taught throughout the country, today it is studied by relatively few students. Despite the declining availability of Latin programs in schools, teachers like Mrs. Landvick have worked hard to keep the language relevant and meaningful, creating a deeper appreciation for the youth’s appreciation of ancient cultures.  

“Latin programs are disappearing and enrollments are going down, but LFHS has always supported it. We have had such a huge percentage of kids in Latin in the school; it’s kind of incredible. I really owe it to the community too, for seeing the value in what some would consider a dead language by understanding that it can do a lot for you,” Mrs. Landvick said. 

Although she’s taught all levels of Latin, in the past few years she’s focused on teaching 3, 3H, 4, 4H, and AP Latin. Mrs. Landvick describes the students in the Latin program as a “family.”

“I remember my sophomore year when we only had 6 kids in our class. Being in such a small class is a completely different experience to my other classes at LFHS. You are pretty much with the same people from freshman through senior year in Latin, so you easily become close with everyone. Mrs. Landvick creates a community within her classes,” senior Jack Walsh said. 

This has given her countless opportunities to engage with her students one-on-one, often teaching each individual student for a minimum of two years throughout their time at LFHS. 

“I feel that we teachers are lucky in the language department because we get to have our students and watch them grow from a scared freshman to a mature senior,” Mrs. Landvick said. 

Mrs. Landvick is also known amongst many for her lighthearted banter and sense of humor. When her students were teased for studying a so-called “dead language,” she armed them with a witty comeback––suggesting that they say, “Hey, your languages wouldn’t exist without Latin. French, Spanish, Italian––they all come from Latin. So we’re just your predecessor!” 

Students of all kinds rave about Mrs. Landvick’s creatively crafted curriculum and lively classroom environment. A typical day in class includes acting out traditional Latin mass weddings, rap battles in hendecasyllabic meter, and “Tea Wednesdays,” where students sip tea while participating in their lessons. 

“Mrs. Landvick is always finding new ways to engage her students, making them want to contribute in class. She would always try to cater to our interests to teach Latin to us, making it such a fun environment that everyone wants to participate. There’s never a time when her classroom is quiet,” junior Burke Konz said. 

Mrs. Susan Howe first met Mrs. Landvick while pursuing her Master’s degree, when she visited to observe Mrs. Landvick’s classroom for a day. Reflecting on that experience, Howe said, “She showed me an example of a passionate and exuberant teacher.” 

They also worked together for several years at the Illinois Junior Classical League Convention, where Mrs. Landvick continued to impress Mrs. Howe as a “dedicated and energetic volunteer.”

Now, the two collaborate to better the curriculum for all of the Latin courses offered at LFHS. 

“She and I work together everyday trying to bring fun and a love of the ancient world to our students. I have seen her be an example to her students of creativity, patience, and adaptability,” Howe said.

In the World Language Department it is agreed upon by her colleagues that Mrs. Landvick approaches teaching with a genuine love for the content.

“Mrs. Landvick is an institution here at LFHS and she has influenced generations of students for the better,” Mrs. Howe said. 

Mrs. Landvick is not the only Landvick in the building––her husband, Mr. Chris Landvick works at LFHS as a wellness and driver’s education teacher. Mr. Landvick describes her as “passionate, empathetic, and kind,” both in the workplace and at home. The two work on the same floor, and Mr. Landvick said that he will greatly miss her presence at LFHS. 

“Mrs. Landvick has a strong work ethic and she has influenced my practice greatly. Working in the same career and the same building has its advantages,” Mr. Landvick said. “It is easy to empathize because we have been in each other’s shoes in most situations. We help each other through the ins and outs of teaching at LFHS. We give thoughtful advice, we celebrate each other’s successes, and sometimes have difficult conversations when something isn’t going well.”

Throughout her time at LFHS, Mrs. Landvick has been actively involved with the school community. For a time, she served as the liaison of the talent show, organized the yearbook, coached the JV Girls Pom team, directed the school newspaper, managed Latin club, and led the Scholastic Bowl team.

The accomplishment that she is most proud of, though, is founding the Academic Teacher’s Assistant program at LFHS. In 2014, Mrs. Landvick encouraged a colleague in the World Language Department to pilot the initiative, and it quickly took off. From there, the program expanded from World Language into the Science department and eventually spread to nearly every other department in the school.

“That went from just a little tiny idea in my head for a leadership opportunity to what it is now; there are over 100 students at LFHS working as TAs. I think that the program is just as beneficial for the TAs themselves as it is for the teachers and students that they work for,” Mrs. Landvick said. 

Additionally, one of Mrs. Landvick’s greatest joys is hearing from former students who credit her with sparking their future passions. 

“I love it when kids go on and study classics or study Latin and then they contact me and say, ‘I was here, and I knew this because of you.’ I’ve received emails like that, and it makes me so happy to find out that I had a positive impact on their lives,” Mrs. Landvick said.

Mrs. Landvick’s retirement plans include taking her eldest daughter to college, and embracing her new role as a stay-at-home mom. She’s also looking forward to spending time with her retired colleagues who have been eagerly awaiting her own retirement; they already have future trips full of new adventures planned. 

“She will be sorely missed, but I also know how much she is looking forward to spending time in her garden and with her family,” Mrs. Howe said. 

There are many aspects of the school that Mrs. Landvick will miss, but one sticks out as the most important: the kids. 

“The best part of teaching is always the kids. I will miss those precious little moments like that look when ‘it’ clicks for a student,” Mrs. Landvick said. 

Mrs. Landvick recognizes that LFHS is a competitive place, but she reminds students to stay true to themselves and to remain open-minded about their futures. 

“You should always study what you want and learn what excites you, not what you think you have to in order to get into the best college or land the best job. My biggest piece of advice to students is to try to say yes to more experiences––even the ones that you’re nervous about––because you never know if your favorite person or the best opportunity might be waiting for you,” Mrs. Landvick said. 

Mrs. Landvick is grateful to LFHS for letting her blossom. She has a remarkable way of making students feel seen and valued, offering the kind of guidance that reflects a parent’s unconditional support. She hopes to be remembered by her students as a teacher who genuinely cared, and many will undoubtedly attest to the fact that she will forever be remembered that way.