Philosophy: 

Every student can succeed. Every student is capable of greatness given engaging and thoughtful work. It is my mission to empower all of you as lifelong learners.

 

Teachers must take a holistic view of students. Besides academics, students have physical, emotional, and mental needs. I am fully aware of those needs and will work to aid in their development. With this in mind, it is of utmost importance to me to have a strong relationship with my students, their community, and their family. With this interaction, I will create the best motivational framework. 

 

I believe that you learn best by discovering independently and by discovering yourselves. Students who are taught to find and apply information on their own become academically inclined and curious. It is my duty to instill that spirit of inquiry within each of my students, and my class is structured around this main tenet.

 

Further, I believe that all education is meant for you to discover more about your own identity. With self-discovery, students will gain confidence, assurance, and purpose. Specifically, with social studies, I have a spectacular opportunity to teach them about their identity and their place in the world. 

 

My classroom is interactive, safe yet challenging, and a place of discovery. I know that all of my students will be thoughtful and inquisitive after my class, and that will be the key to their success. 

 

Classroom Management Style: 

Students should feel safe and comfortable in my classroom, both physically and mentally. I believe by empowering students to make their own choices about their education, the management falls into place. Please let me know immediately if this classroom no longer feels like your classroom. I am here for you, and every decision I make is with you in mind. Let’s have a fantastic year!

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Personal Information: 

I was born in San Jose, California, and I attended Los Gatos High School (rumored to be the inspiration for the movie "High School Musical". Go Wildcats!). At Los Gatos High School I was extremely active in water polo, choir, and yearbook. I was the the first video yearbook editor at the school, and I played varsity water polo all four years. I was a very eager student in my classes, and I still keep in touch with many of my teachers. I graduated with a 4.3 GPA, and I was selected to be the opening graduation speaker.

 

After high school, I made the decision to attend UC Santa Barbara but soon transferred  to a community college due to the large class sizes and distractions in the area. After watching every season of Friday Night Lights, I decided that Texas was the best state in the world and moved here soon after. I graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Japanese and haven't turned back. My love of learning did not stop at a bachelor's, and through a program called Dallas Teacher Residency, I earned my master's in education at Texas A&M-Commerce. I plan on working towards a doctorate in the next five years. 

 

My desire to become a teacher is mostly influenced by the inequity in education that exists between urban and suburban areas. It is my personal mission to ensure that all students receive quality education regardless of race, socioeconomic status, disability, or any other factor. Another goal I have as a teacher is to remain a stable figure in my students' lives. Teacher retention in urban areas seems to be a common issue in which I am actively trying to combat here in Dallas. 

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Outside of the classroom, I enjoy coaching and officiating water polo. Besides water polo, I often spend my time in coffee shops or finding new places to hike and camp. I have a dog named Skippy that I take on my adventures. 

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I hope we get to know each other better in the coming year!