Spilotro helps Italian students ‘find their fire’

When Enza Spilotro’s family moved from Chicago’s South Side to suburban Addison, she chose to attend the local public high school rather than a private institution because she wanted to take Italian language classes.

Nowadays, Spilotro walks the halls of her alma mater, Addison Trail High School, as an Italian teacher, a role she’s held for the last 18 years.

“From as far as I can remember, I wanted to teach,” she recalls. “I always had a natural desire to help others, and become involved in the educational system. I love giving back and teaching allows me to do that when simultaneously doing what I love and sharing my passion for my culture and language every day. I also like to consider myself someone who always tries to see the underlying passion in my students. I strive to help them find their fire and what helps them feel who they are wholeheartedly.”

Spilotro, whose parents are Italian, grew up in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood in Chicago’s South Side. Her father is from Casteltermini and her mother was born in Caccamo, both in Sicily; both emigrated to the United States at an early age.

Her childhood was built on a strong foundation of Italian heritage, and her first language was the Sicilian dialect until she learned English in school, she says.

“Many of my fond childhood memories involved listening to Italian music in the backseat of our car driving to family parties, making homemade sauce and having family together on Sundays, making Sicilian cuccidati cookies for Christmas with my nonna,” she says. “I just remember always being proud of my roots and wanting to continue the traditions with my future family.”

Spilotro has a degree in secondary education with majors in English and Italian from Dominican University. She later earned a graduate degree in English language learning and differentiated instruction, and recently obtained a dual credit certification that enables her to give students the opportunity to receive college credit for her Italian classes.

As a teacher, Spilotro aims to create a balanced and dynamic classroom, so students feel both supported and challenged.

“I take the time to understand each student’s needs and adapt my teaching to accommodate diverse learning styles, incorporating visual, auditory and kinesthetic methods. My kindness helps foster trust, making students feel comfortable taking risks and asking questions, while my firmness ensures clear expectations and a structured environment,” she explains.

She also ensures students are actively engaged and can connect what they learn to their own lives with hands-on activities, real-world applications and collaborative projects, she adds.

Spilotro is a member of the Village of Addison Sister Cities committee, which helps raise funds for students who want the opportunity to study abroad in Italy. She was also a Pom Pons coach for 15 years and an Italian Club sponsor for more than 10 years.

Prior to Addison Trail, she held a long-term sub position for a language arts class at Percy Julian Middle School in suburban Oak Park.

As much as she loves her job, Spilotro says being a high school teacher and a mother presents unique challenges, as both roles demand significant time, energy and emotional investment.

“Balancing lesson planning, grading, and school events with my parenting responsibilities often creates time management struggles and can leave me feeling emotionally drained,” she says. “I sometimes experience guilt about dividing my attention between my students and my own children, and the overlapping needs and scheduling conflicts can be overwhelming. Maintaining work-life boundaries is tough, as my professional responsibilities often spill into family time, leaving little room for self-care. Despite these challenges, I find strength in my dual roles, drawing inspiration from both my students and my children.”

As for any future plans, she simply wants to continue teaching until retirement while enjoying her children and any opportunities to travel, she says.

In her free time, Spilotro loves working out, writing, spending time with family and friends, and laying on the beach.