Hoy Has a Unique Addiction

English teacher Mandy Hoy freely admits to being an addict–a book addict, that is. 

“If I could read to my students all day long, I totally would. My favorite time period is the Renaissance. Othello is so much fun to read,” she said. 

Hoy loves to read for fun as well. “I highly recommend reading James Patterson because he has a wide range of stories that appeal to many different age ranges,” she added. 

 The long-time Fluvanna teacher teaches 8th and 12th grade English/Language Arts. Hoy grew up in Charlottesville and went to Albemarle High School before attending college. “I went to Piedmont Community College, James Madison University, Mary Baldwin College, and University of Virginia/University of Virginia Wise,” she said. 

Hoy used to teach Special Education but now teaches English. What made her switch? “I had been in special education for about 15 years, so I felt it was time for a change. I love English,” she explained.  Her favorite thing about teaching is “When my students listen and love to learn.”  

Something that surprises students to know about Hoy is that she is “older than you think, and I’m way cooler outside of school,” she said. “I like to watch my boys play sports (baseball and basketball), read, and hang out with friends. My boys are in 5th and 9th grade,” said Hoy. 

Hoy said that if she could change one thing from her high school days it would be to “have played more sports and appreciated my time… it goes by fast.”

Hoy added another thing she would change about high school. “I wish I had played volleyball and stayed with softball. I cheered as a varsity cheerleader and was in so many competitions, so I didn’t really have time for anything else,” she said.