First-year Denair High School teacher Daytona Jones has a sister named Atlanta and brother named Dylan.
Their parents settled on Jones’ name after a commercial promoting the Daytona 500 NASCAR race appeared on the TV in the labor and delivery room. Her sister was named for their mom’s favorite football team – the Atlanta Falcons – and her brother was named after Dylan McKay, the fictional character played by the late Luke Perry on “Beverly Hills 90210.”
“My parents are fans of sports and pop culture,” said Jones, who will teach mild to moderate special education for grades 9-12.
Jones said she’s excited about the start of the 2026-27 school year, but also a bit anxious.
“I’m incredibly nervous,” said Jones, a 2016 graduate of Turlock High School. “I was lucky enough to be a sub in the class that I ended up taking over, so I know the kids and they’re also so amazing. That relieves my anxiety, but I’m still nervous because I hope to do well and don’t want to disappoint anybody.”
Here are few other things to know about Daytona Jones:
Family members: I have a close-knit family that has always encouraged my love for education.
Educational background: I went to Turlock High School, then received my BA in History at CSU Stanislaus, and am now attending Teacher’s College of San Joaquin to receive my teaching credential.
Previous teaching jobs: This is my first year teaching. However, I did substitute for two years.
Subject/grades taught at Denair: High school mild-moderate Special Education (9-12).
What attracted you to Denair? I had the honor of substituting for multiple classes at DHS and fell in love with the school! The community is so inspiring, and everyone makes you feel like you are a part of something bigger than yourself.
What most inspires you about teaching? The students. Seeing students grow in confidence and realizing they are capable of more than they thought possible. I love helping students discover their strengths and celebrating their progress.
What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? As a first-year teacher, I am excited to continue learning and growing while building a classroom where every student feels supported, challenged and successful.
What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? I enjoy using interactive activities, collaborative learning, and graphic organizers to make learning engaging and accessible for all students.
What do you want your students to remember? I want my students to remember they are valued and supported in my classroom. I want them to know they are capable of achieving great things.
What can parents do to support you? Communication is key! When families and teachers work together, we can best support students.
What’s something that would surprise people about your job? Special Education teachers wear many hats. We teach, collaborate with parents and staff, adapt lessons, support student goals, and celebrate growth every step of the way.
What do you do for fun? I love to read! You will always catch me with a book in my hands in my free time.
A little-known fact about me is … My love for reading began when I was a child with the Magic Treehouse books. Any chance I get to introduce a student to the series, I take it, and hope it also sparks a love for reading.
