Et cetera : We Just Had to Ask: New VS Middle School teacher Alexa Francois

Alexa Francois' favorite pic of herself is her volleyball mug shot; she earned honors at Mt. Mercy.

Alexa Francois is the new Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School Behavior Learning Center teacher. As a college student, she played volleyball at Mount Mercy, where she was the team MVP her senior year. She also earned All-Academic Awards as well as Team Spirit and Most Hustle Awards.

Ms. Francois grew up in Dundee in northeast Iowa, and graduated from Starmont High School.

We asked her our questions for the "Had to Ask" series. Below are her answers, in her own words:

Q. Is there anything that your family asks you not to cook, ever again?

A. No, I’m a good cook.

Q. Does it matter in your house which way the toilet paper roll goes?

A. Absolutely! The toilet paper has to come from underneath.

Q. Tell us about your favorite chair:

A. It’s at my parent’s house and it is a reclining chair. It’s gray and big enough to curl up and take a nap in.

Q. Best fast food sandwich ever?

A. Homestyle chicken sandwich from Arby’s with lettuce and mayonnaise

Q. What was your first job?

A. The Dairy Sweet in Lamont, IA. It was a tiny ice cream and fast food shack.

Q. If you were to get a traffic citation it would most likely be for….

A. Speeding

Q. One place in the world you really, really wish you could visit?

A. Panama City, Panama

Q. First pet you remember?

A. Dalmatian dog named Spuds

Q. Who was your favorite teacher, and why?

A. My 4th grade teacher Mr. Pickart because after recess we would sit in the room with the lights off and he would read to us. He had the most AMAZING voices while he read.

Q. Tell us about a favorite Christmas present you have received:

A. Money, money, money. Still feel like a poor college kid.

Q. What is your favorite big word?

A. Plethora

Q. Tell us about one of your pet peeves?

A. People chewing loudly

Q. What book or author you have not read, but should?

A. Jodi Picoult

Q. What happens to the missing socks in the laundry?

A. My dryer eats them

Q. Iowa or Iowa State (or other)?

A. IOWA!

Q. Was there something your parents said to you, over and over, that you, would growing up, said to yourself, "I will never say that to my kids?"

A. Every single day. Of course, I can’t think of what it was, but of course I’ve found myself saying it.

Q. Worst TV show ever?

A. Jersey Shore

Q. Best TV show ever?

A. Grey’s Anatomy

Q. What is your dream car?

A. My brand new Chrysler 200 that I just bought.

Q. Who should run for President, but hasn't?

A. Oprah

Q. Fill in the blank: In a perfect winter, it would snow…

...on Christmas eve and Christmas only.

Q. Name your favorite:

Comic strip: None

Candy bar: Snickers

Ice cream: Chocolate

Color: Purple

Sports team: Minnesota Vikings

Actor/actress: Channing Tatum

Song: Remembering Sunday by All Time Low

Planet: Earth

Photograph of yourself: College volleyball mug shot

Our serious question:

Q. When and why did you decide to become a teacher?

A. I think I always knew I was going to teach. I went into special education because my family adopted my brother, who has autism. Living in a family with an individual with special needs has opened up my eyes to how even one single educator can have a positive impact on the family.

And finally :

Q. Is there anything you wish we would have asked you?

A: If I was an aunt. I am a VERY proud aunt of my niece Maci, 2 years old, and my nephew Jaxon, 3 months old.