This is one in a series of Q&A’s with teachers new to Denair Unified in 2019-20

Family: Parents, two brothers  and fiance. 

School: Denair Elementary Charter Academy      

Subject taught: Spanish

Experience and education:  I am a first-year teacher. I received my bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from CSU Stanislaus. I have a BA in communication studies and Spanish and a single subject teaching credential in Spanish. 

What attracted you to Denair? I have lived in small towns in California my entire life. First Davenport, then Delhi (all places that start with a D). Denair feels a lot like home and I like the idea of teaching in such a close-knit community where everyone is friendly and knows each other. 

Why most inspires you about teaching? What inspires me most is watching students grow throughout the school year. I also want to be a role model for my students to show them that they can be successful. Growing up, I struggled in school due to learning English as a second language. Thanks to all the wonderful teachers I had all throughout school, I was still able to succeed. I hope to be an aid to the success of my students in the same manner that my teachers have done for me in the past. 

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? A challenge I look forward to tackling this year is a reduction in technology use. I want to make it a personal goal to not use any electronics 30 minutes before bed and the first 30 minutes I’m awake in the morning. 

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? My favorite teaching tools are songs. They are fun and they help students learn whatever concept we are learning. Plus, you can dance and sing along.    

This is one in a series of Q&A’s with teachers new to Denair Unified in 2019-20

School:  Denair Middle School

Subject taught: Sixth grade

Experience and education:  In 2014, I was a elementary PE teacher, while also subbing. I was also an intervention teacher for two years at Little Lake City School District in Norwalk, Calif. Last year, I was a sixth-grade elementary school teacher in Waterford. I graduated from Turlock High School, went to Stan State for 2½ years and then transferred to Long Beach State, where I graduated in 2013.  I then went and got my teaching credential and master’s at National University.

What attracted you to Denair? I already knew a few people in the district since I grew up in Turlock. What got me noticing the district more was when I was at sixth-grade camp, and my district got paired with Denair and I got to work with some of the staff. They were awesome, friendly and a real joy to work with.

Why most inspires you about teaching? I enjoy making an impact on students. I remember when I was a student and how much I appreciated a teacher who made learning fun, but taught me life lessons along the way that I could use after my time with that teacher. I like being on the other end of that spectrum now and making that same impact to students.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? The big challenge I am looking forward to is that this is my first year being in a middle school setting, rather than being in the elementary setting. I am also teaching a new elective that is new to the district — robotics and model design — which should be interesting and fun for me and the students.

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity?  I think the best is yet to come for this question. I get to teach robotics to the students, so I am sure that will be my new favorite activity.

What do you want your students to remember? I want my students to remember how awesome their first year of middle school was and how much they enjoyed their elective class.

How can parents support what you do? The goal with parents is to have a team effort and keep standards high both outside and inside the classroom. Making sure parents understand what is happening inside the classroom and feeling open to emailing me and keeping an open communication line.

What would surprise people about your job?  Every day is different and keeps things fresh. Building relationships with students and teaching them new crafts always has self-gratification within it. I think most people laugh when they find out I am a teacher because when I was in school I struggled at times, and now I am a teacher.What do you do for fun? I love being around sports. Anything that could be competitive, I am all for. I also enjoy going to the movies and reading.

This is one in a series of Q&A’s with teachers new to Denair Unified in 2019-20

Family: Husband, Jose; daughter, Emma (at DMS); and son, Victor (at DECA’s Dual Immersion Program)

School: Denair Middle School

Subject taught: English Language Arts

Experience and education: I hold a bachelor’s degree in both criminal justice and psychology, as well as a multiple subject teaching credential from CSU Stanislaus.  This is my fourth year in education and my first year teaching sixth-grade language arts.

What attracted you to Denair? I have family and friends who are a part of the Denair community. I was attracted to Denair because it is a small town and a very tight-knit community.

What most inspires you about teaching? Knowing that I have the ability to positively impact the lives of my students and their families.  

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year?  Effectively developing reading and writing lessons that are going to inspire and motivate my students.

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? While there are many tools and activities helpful to teaching, my favorite is building community in the classroom.  I like to get to know my students (their likes, their dislikes, what excites them, what they look forward to in the future, etc.). I’ve learned that by taking the time to make these genuine individual connections, my students are willing to work harder in pursuit of their own learning goals.

Students continue to make improvements in English and math, but too many still are performing below state standards, Superintendent Terry Metzger told the Denair Unified School District board Thursday night.

Trustees have expressed concern with results from the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, known as CAASPP. Students in grades three through eight as well as high school juniors take a battery of tests each spring over six or seven days. Their results are then revealed – individually, by grade level and by school district.

The performance in grades three through eight also are used to indicate a district’s academic status on California School Dashboard, intended to be a quick way for parents and others to measure progress.

“It’s high profile and high stakes, but often misinterpreted,” Metzger told trustees.

Denair students have lagged state-set benchmarks for many years in English and math. That’s still the case, but Metzger said there is a silver lining in the latest numbers based on tests taken last spring.

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

John Plett, the senior member of the Denair Unified School District board, submitted his resignation at Thursday night’s meeting. It is effective immediately.

In his letter to Superintendent Terry Metzger and board President Regina Gomes, Plett said he needed “to focus on my health.”

The remaining four trustees decided they will appoint Plett’s replacement rather than hold a costly special election. His term ends in November 2020.

Interested community members who live within the district’s boundaries and who are registered to vote may pick up an application at the district’s office or download the form off the district’s website.  Applications will be accepted Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Aug. 19.

A question and answer session will take place Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. at the district office for those interested in learning more about the board position prior to applying.

On Aug. 29, Trustees Kathi Dunham-Filson, Regina Gomes, Ray Prock Jr. and Crystal Sousa will hold a special board meeting at 7 p.m. to interview all the applicants. After discussion, trustees will vote that night to choose Plett’s successor. The new trustee will be sworn it at the Sept. 12 board meeting.

Those with questions about the process should call Daisy Swearingen, executive assistant to superintendent and board, at (209) 632-7514, ext. 1202.

Plett, 68, was first elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2015. A retired law enforcement officer, he is known for the pride he takes in the community as well as the students and staff on Denair’s four campuses.

He and his wife, Kathy, have lived in Denair for nearly 40 years. All four of their daughters attended Denair schools and one of them, Kara Binkley, is a counselor in the Denair district. Many members of Plett’s family were in the audience Thursday night.