Roxi Lagos is a self-described “nerd.” She loves making spreadsheets; she was excited about creating a snack menu for sporting events and dances last year; her pets are named after Naruto characters; and she’s looking forward to redoing her yard with drought-resistant plants. But make no mistake, this former corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps, can be plenty tough when she needs to be.
“I really see my role as, one that not only supports students, especially when it comes to behavior, but as support for the teachers because it’s the teachers that do the work,” said Lagos, who becomes the learning director at Denair Elementary Charter Academy this year. “I definitely like the new position, but I am dog tired. I have three kids, I’ve been a teacher, and I’ve been in the military. This is a different kind of tired.”
Here are a few other things you probably don’t know about Lagos:
Family members – Three children: Bunni is 18 and recently graduated from Denair High School; Isaac is 15 and a sophomore at DHS; Logan is 14 and is a freshman at DHS this year. I have three cats, Kiko, Goose, and Toji, and a black pug named Clover.
Educational background – I grew up and attended K-12 schools in Texas. As part of my service in the Marine Corps, I was stationed at Camp Pendleton near San Diego. After my service, I stayed home to raise my children and earned my bachelor’s degree and teaching credential at WGU. I am pursuing my master’s degree with Alliant International University.
Subject/grades taught – I began my career as an elementary school teacher before making the jump to middle school and teaching math. When I began teaching in Denair, I taught both seventh- and eighth-grade math. I also coached the academic pentathlon team at DMS for four years. Last year, I had the amazing opportunity to establish the Teacher Residency Program at DUSD and taught eighth-grade math 50 percent of my day. This year, I am excited to be moving into school administration as the learning director at Denair Elementary Charter Academy. I am hopeful that I can be supportive to the amazing teachers here so they can do what they do best: teach.
What attracted you to Denair? – I began my career in a very large school district. My students and I were just names and faces in a much larger pool of other names and faces. I came to Denair because I wanted to become part of a community where people would at least take the time to learn my name. I’ve stayed here and committed my career aspirations to Denair because of the people: the students, their families, and the extraordinary people with whom I get to work.
What most inspires you about teaching? – As an educator, I am most inspired by the impact I make on the world. Our students will go out into our great nation and to all corners of the world. When they do that, they reflect Denair. I want the world to see that we are small, but we are mighty, and that we contributed to this wonderful person with whom they’re interacting.
What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? – This is a big question because I am new to my role and my school site this year. I am grateful that I have interacted with many of the teachers here, as they taught my boys and did such a great job. I hope that I can build a positive relationship with each of them and get to know their needs so that I can support them. Also, I get to inventory obsolete equipment, and I love making a spreadsheet!
What is your hope for your students? – I hope they never shrink themselves to fit in, especially if it means pretending to be less intelligent or articulate than they are. I hope that if they don’t fit in now, they hold on until they get the chance to experience the world and find their people.
What can parents do to support you? – When parents support me, they support their children. My core belief is in the potential of education to open doors and minds. I hope that families will assume a positive intent in all my actions, because everything I do is for the benefit of their children and our community.
What do you do for fun? – I am a bit of a nerd in that I truly love to learn, and I enjoy organizing and making sense information. I am always seeking to “beautify” things and I get a great deal of satisfaction from planning, conducting, and completing projects. I was excited to create a snack menu for sporting events and school dances for DMS last year. At home, I am waiting for it to get a bit cooler so my sons and I can redo our lawn. I am looking forward to establishing drought-tolerant plants that look beautiful and require less maintenance than traditional grass lawns. I also collect video games, consoles, and Amiibo. I enjoy cartoons, anime, and watch way too much YouTube.
One interesting, little-known fact about me is … In boot camp I was the “knowledge recruit” and was honored to be voted “Molly Marine” for my platoon.
