I started teaching in 2001 when SDUSD had a shortage of bilingual teachers. I had an emergency credential and started off teaching kindergarten in Logan Heights at Logan Elementary. I taught kindergarten from 2001-2004. I worked for a very supportive principal who encouraged me to complete my teaching credential program so that he could hire me as more than just a long-term sub. I continued subbing at his school, Logan Elementary, from 2004-2006, while I pursued my BCLAD. During those years, I was very fortunate to gain experience with all grade levels from kindergarten through fifth grade. I got to know the curriculum, grade-level expectations and continued to impress my principal with my excellent behavior management skills regardless of what grade level I was placed in on any given day. He kept telling me he needed me to get my BCLAD teaching credential ASAP so that he could hire me at his school.
When I finally graduated with my BCLAD, in June of 2006, I received a phone call from the Director of Curriculum at Memorial Academy offering me a position at his junior high school. I politely declined letting him know that I already had a position promised at Logan Elementary. He would not take no for an answer. He said he knew of my practices and insisted that he needed me at his school. He called me two or three more times justifying his reasons why it was of high importance that I teach at his school. Once I listened to his reasons, I spoke to my principal about the situation. He said, he supported my decision, if I decide to go next door instead of staying at his school. Memorial Academy Charter School was the junior high that was adjacent to Logan Elementary and I decided to accept a teaching position at Memorial Academy. Although the charter school dissolved four years later, at the end of the 2008-2009 school year, those four years were very valuable four years of my life. I learned so much about so many things that I was not aware of before and that only by working there did I discover. I taught 6th grade math, 7th grade pre-algebra and two years of 8th grade algebra.
At the end of the 2008-2009 school year, the charter school dissolved and SDUSD took over and placed a new principal in charge. I taught one more year under this wonderful and supportive principal. At the end of the 2009-2010 school year, the lay-off notices came and I got laid off, along with at least 7 other teachers at that site. The new school year started that September of 2010 and for the first time, since I had started teaching, I had no classroom to open up.
That October of 2010, a friend of mine recommended me to my current principal and I worked at Riverview Elementary Language Academy as a substitute teacher that fall. In December of 2010 I interviewed for the Spanish immersion EAK position that would be opening up on January 3, 2011. I was hired to teach EAK that winter. At the end of the school year, I got hired to teach Spanish Immersion kindergarten for the 2011-2012 school year. Then I got hired to teach first grade Spanish Immersion for the 2012-2013 school year. During the 2013-2014 school year I taught 4th grade Spanish immersion and during this 2014-2015 school year I am also teaching 4th grade Spanish Immersion. This is the second year in a row that I serve as a cooperating teacher for a student-teacher from SDSU. My student-teacher from last year got hired at the same campus to teach 2nd grade.
No matter where I have been, I have always found myself surrounded by very supportive people who encourage me to grow to my full potential in every way. The challenges that have presented themselves have helped shape my vision, personal mission and goals. I am grateful for all my experiences that have led me to where I am today. I look forward to continuing to develop as a professional through this new lens that I am now acquiring through my Educational Leadership with an Emphasis in Technology Master’s Degree Program.
When I finally graduated with my BCLAD, in June of 2006, I received a phone call from the Director of Curriculum at Memorial Academy offering me a position at his junior high school. I politely declined letting him know that I already had a position promised at Logan Elementary. He would not take no for an answer. He said he knew of my practices and insisted that he needed me at his school. He called me two or three more times justifying his reasons why it was of high importance that I teach at his school. Once I listened to his reasons, I spoke to my principal about the situation. He said, he supported my decision, if I decide to go next door instead of staying at his school. Memorial Academy Charter School was the junior high that was adjacent to Logan Elementary and I decided to accept a teaching position at Memorial Academy. Although the charter school dissolved four years later, at the end of the 2008-2009 school year, those four years were very valuable four years of my life. I learned so much about so many things that I was not aware of before and that only by working there did I discover. I taught 6th grade math, 7th grade pre-algebra and two years of 8th grade algebra.
At the end of the 2008-2009 school year, the charter school dissolved and SDUSD took over and placed a new principal in charge. I taught one more year under this wonderful and supportive principal. At the end of the 2009-2010 school year, the lay-off notices came and I got laid off, along with at least 7 other teachers at that site. The new school year started that September of 2010 and for the first time, since I had started teaching, I had no classroom to open up.
That October of 2010, a friend of mine recommended me to my current principal and I worked at Riverview Elementary Language Academy as a substitute teacher that fall. In December of 2010 I interviewed for the Spanish immersion EAK position that would be opening up on January 3, 2011. I was hired to teach EAK that winter. At the end of the school year, I got hired to teach Spanish Immersion kindergarten for the 2011-2012 school year. Then I got hired to teach first grade Spanish Immersion for the 2012-2013 school year. During the 2013-2014 school year I taught 4th grade Spanish immersion and during this 2014-2015 school year I am also teaching 4th grade Spanish Immersion. This is the second year in a row that I serve as a cooperating teacher for a student-teacher from SDSU. My student-teacher from last year got hired at the same campus to teach 2nd grade.
No matter where I have been, I have always found myself surrounded by very supportive people who encourage me to grow to my full potential in every way. The challenges that have presented themselves have helped shape my vision, personal mission and goals. I am grateful for all my experiences that have led me to where I am today. I look forward to continuing to develop as a professional through this new lens that I am now acquiring through my Educational Leadership with an Emphasis in Technology Master’s Degree Program.