During my mentor interview with Sophie Richards, I learned she has been teaching at Ensign Peak Academy since August, 2025.
Without further ado, here is my mentor interview with Sophie Richards.
How did you first hear about Ensign Peak?
I graduated from BYU last year, but was still receiving emails from their French department. They listed a job opportunity for Ensign Peak Academy. I applied for the job, and here I am.
What do you love about your subject? Tell us about how you became interested in that subject.
I love French partly because I started learning when I was 5 years old. It has been a part of my life for a long time. It feels familiar in a way because it has been in my life for so long. French opened a door to more cultures and understanding of other people, their traditions, and their ways of life. It is wonderful to be an insider into a language that other people speak.
My local elementary school had a French immersion program. All my siblings did it as well as me. I feel lucky that I got to do that.
Why did you decide to become a teacher?
I love languages and was looking for a job where I could use my love of French and other languages. I’ve always wanted to share language learning with younger students. Learning other languages also helps people to learn better.
How did you become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? What does that mean to you?
I was born in a family where my parents and older siblings were all members, and I grew up going to church regularly. Our parents taught us about the gospel in our home.
Regarding the familiarity I have with French at a young age, I have the same with God and Jesus Christ. I’m grateful for that. I love Jesus Christ and being a disciple of Jesus Christ. I find purpose in the gospel. I find comfort and hope in Jesus Christ.
Tell us about yourself and your family.
I am from a town called Mclean, Virginia, just outside of Washington DC. I graduated from BYU in linguistics, and I served a mission in Salem, Oregon, speaking Spanish. My whole family loves languages, and we study many of them. My siblings try to maintain proficiency in the languages they’ve studied.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to bake and cook, and I like to read and listen to music. I enjoy playing soccer and watching other sports I can’t play. Reading non-fiction is another favorite pastime. I like finding a topic and reading about that topic. I listen to a lot of different kinds of music, indie, alternative rock, etc.
What is something unique about you?
I find joy in noticing the quiet beauty of the world—the delicate lines of a spider’s web, the way shadows fall. Paying attention to these small details fills me with a sense of wonder and gratitude.
What hopes do you have for your students?
I do hope that they will find the language of French interesting and the study of a foreign language interesting. I love Ensign Peak Academy’s aim of finding joy in learning, and I hope my students apply that to their study of French.
Sophie Richards is part of the World Languages program at Ensign Peak Academy. If you want to learn about this program, click on the link: