I am a math teacher, soccer/futsal coach and chess advisor at Aiken High School in Cincinnati Public Schools.
Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My wife, Julia Indalecia, and I have three kids; Sam, Maya, and Benji. Sam and my daughter-in-law, Emily, have a 10 month old baby girl named Sophia.
Please tell us about your career. What do you love most about what you do?
I have been teaching in the Cincinnati area since 1998. I started at Scarlet Oaks and Laurel Oaks. I have been in the Cincinnati Public Schools since 2003. I currently teach in the English as a Second Language Department at Aiken. My students are primarily refugees and immigrants. I love to see students learn and the intellectual and emotional growth that learning fosters.
What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Taco Tuesday at Tortilleria Garcia in College Hill is a weekly ritual for us, especially during the school year. Bacall’s in College Hill is very close to us and is a go-to when we are eating late.
How long have you lived or worked in our community?
We’ve lived in College Hill for almost 20 years now. I’ve lived in Oxford (Miami), Sharonville, Wilmington, and Mount Healthy before that.
Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
My wife, Julia.
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. My uncle lived in that region and died down there. Also, I took a Spanish Lit class and the professor was from Buenos Aires, so I have some extra curiosity about it.
What is one of your favorite movies?
The Godfather.
What advice would you give to people?
Treat people with kindness and assume people’s intentions are well-meaning.
What is something on your bucket list?
To see every state in the US and every province in Canada.
What is your go to music when you cant decide what to listen to?
The Police.
What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
The Race Street Theater.
If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Barrack Obama at Brink Brewing in College Hill. We’d carry in lunch from MashRoots which is right next door.
What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Cincinnati is almost like a small town, just bigger, with more to do. Everything is 20 minutes away or less. I also love the topography.
Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I will still be teaching and following my grandchildren around.
What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I’m a Spanish Language Learner. I would like to be fluent some day.
What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Yosemite National Park
What is your favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
As a kid it was always June and July. My birthday and July 4th are less than a week apart and it was baseball season.
What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My neighborhood.
Who inspires you to be better?
My family.
What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Lilacs, but I am terribly allergic. The smell of pizza.
Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Safe, Comfortable, Family.
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Thanks to Steve Sinden for participating in The Faces of Cincinnati. Not only is Steve immersed in the culture of learning, but even more critically he is focused on providing these kids an opportunity to realize their potential in life.
Many of us with high school kids recognize how difficult it is for these young people to find a healthy path through the high school terrain, Now imagine the additional challenge of not speaking the language or being in an unfamiliar country.
Just be kind to people.
