Saint Ursula Academy Teacher Spotlight

Chrissy Rode, English Department Chair, teacher, and mystery novelist, shares 35 years of wisdom with her students. 

 Chrissy Rode, pictured in a self-portrait on her books. Photo Courtesy of Ellen Kalinoski.

By Ava DiSalle and Molly Malone
September 23, 2025

TOLEDO, OH – There is one guarantee when walking into Room 224 at Saint Ursula Academy: Chrissy Rode will eventually discover that she knows one of your relatives.

Mrs. Rode has been an English teacher at SUA for 35 years. During this time, she has left an impact on everyone she has met and has brought light into her students' lives. From engaging class conversations to remembering that she taught someone’s aunt, there is never a dull moment in her classroom.

“She is very insightful; she teaches us important things beyond just English,” said Rennie Badoni, a current AP English Literature and Composition student.

Mrs. Rode fosters the engaging atmosphere in her classroom by attaching her lessons to something contemporary. She enjoys tying her lessons to current events or topics relevant to her students' lives. 

 She landed at SUA in 1991 when English teacher Pamela Buehrer was on maternity leave. Mrs. Rode took over for her and has been a part of the school ever since. 

“I loved it so much I stayed,” said Mrs. Rode.

Mrs. Rode is involved in many ways at SUA. She is one of the moderators for Mock Trial and says that she loves it because she learns something new every time she walks into a meeting. She gets the opportunity to help her students grow while also growing as a person. 

“She brings a lot of life to the club,” said Zeynab Merhi, a current Mock Trial member. “She has a very spunky personality and gets involved in the cases.” 

Although there have been many unforgettable moments in her career, one stands out above all others—the chance to teach her own daughter. Mrs. Rode’s daughter, Margaret Rode, graduated from SUA in 2014. Mrs. Rode enjoyed being close to her daughter and being involved in her life throughout her teenage years. 

“I think it was very comforting for her. I think it was comforting for me,” said Mrs. Rode.

Mrs. Rode has seen 35 classes of students make their way through SUA. She hopes that the class of 2026, and every class that follows, will take control of their lives and continue to achieve success in their own unique ways. 

As for herself, Mrs. Rode hopes to continue learning and growing as she helps her students do the same. 

“If you do what I do for a living, you never stop growing.”