Background:

• Film Production and Photography at Emerson College, Bachelor of Arts
• TEFL/TESOL Certificate from the International TESOL Academy
• Ms. McLoughlin has 10 years of teaching experience across three different countries. She first started teaching English in Costa Rica and then continued teaching in Spain. More recently, she has been teaching English to multilingual learners in Vermont for the past seven years. She believes language learning helps build empathy and understanding across cultures. She's excited to teach Spanish at Rice because speaking another language helps bring people together and create stronger communities. 
• Started at Rice in 2026

Get to Know Her:

I enjoy teaching Spanish because: languages bring people together. Spanish is a beautiful language to learn and speaking this language allows for opportunities both locally and internationally. When learning a language it’s important to also learn about culture, because languages reflect culture, and I look forward to teaching about different Spanish speaking countries and the rich cultures and traditions that are found in different parts of the world. 

I choose to teach at Rice because of the community and the strong educational values. It’s important to have a positive and welcoming community of teachers and learners in a school, and I believe Rice has that essential combination. While learning can be deeply empowering, it can also be an incredibly vulnerable experience, and I strive to create a welcoming and supportive classroom for my community of learners. 

What is your favorite thing about your job?  My students are the key to my success. They inspire me, challenge me, and motivate me to be more creative, to be more considerate, and to be a better person and teacher. My favorite thing about teaching is the relationship that I form with my students. I love seeing the world through their eyes and showing them that they are capable, kind, and intelligent individuals. 

If you had an unexpected afternoon off, what would you do with your time?
I would go for a long walk and listen to a podcast or call a friend. 

Best vacation/trip you’ve ever been on:
In 2024, I spent six weeks in Spain walking the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage across northern Spain. On this pilgrimage, I started in France and then walked about 800km all the way to Santiago de Compostella, Spain. It was 35 days of walking and living out of my backpack.  I met wonderful new friends, swam in several rivers, visited many churches and cathedrals, and saw countless beautiful countrysides. I can’t wait to do it again one day! 

Favorite tradition/field trip/project you do in your classroom each school year:
Spanish Coffee Hour - a time for students and staff to come together to celebrate a Spanish or Latin American holiday or tradition. We share treats and learn about different cultural traditions, while practicing our Spanish. 

Favorite Rice Sports Team to watch:  I used to play ice hockey in high school - so hockey!