Family: I come from a single-parent family consisting of my mother myself and my three younger siblings. Although we don’t live near each other currently, we are still quite close and make regular trips to visit each other.
School: Denair Middle School
Subject taught: Seventh-grade world history and eighth-grade U.S. history
Experience and education: I graduated from CSU Stanislaus with a bachelor’s in social science. I am still currently in school, though I have transferred to Teachers College of San Joaquin for the IMPACT program to receive my credential. Prior to this position, I substitute taught for a little under two years, and before that I spent some time at the high school level as an instructional aide.
What attracted you to Denair? The thing that attracted me to Denair was primarily the town’s size. It felt very familiar to me having lived in Gustine, which is another small town not too far away. I also have been really inspired by the friendliness and welcoming nature of the staff as well as their mission for our students.
What most inspires you about teaching? It has always been watching my students finally get that “Ah-ha” moment after seeing them struggle with completing a topic. I absolutely love to see their face when they really begin to “get it.”
What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? A challenge I am looking forward to is probably also my biggest concern. I’m excited to figure out how to create a manageable and conducive classroom environment for my students (especially the big classes).
What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? My favorite teaching tool and activities are group/class discussions. I am for sure somewhat of a chatterbox, and I know some of my students are, too. I feel these discussions give us the opportunity to get out those words we’ve been holding in, in a productive and positive way.
What do you want your students to remember? I’d like students to remember the skills they will learn in my class, so that the rest of the educational career runs that much smoother for them.
How can parents support what you do? Parents can support what I do by being as involved as possible in their child’s education. Talk to their child about their school day, use the apps and website provided to check in on their progress, and reach out to their teachers when you have any questions or concerns.
What would surprise people about your job? Definitely not sitting as much as I remember teachers were.
What do you do for fun? I enjoy riding my motorcycle, playing video games, hanging out with my friends and family, and plenty of trips out of town.
