All Posts

Some teachers don’t just teach a subject, instead they teach you how to learn, how to handle a challenge, and how to believe you’re capable even when something feels hard at first. That’s exactly what my eighth grade Spanish teacher, Señora León, did for me. I still remember how rigorous her class felt in middle school. It honestly shocked my classmates and I at first, because it was more intense than all of our other middle school classes. But as we talked, it became clear w

When I think back to seventh-grade Honors Math, I don’t just remember the numbers on the board or the feeling of trying to get an answer to finally work out. I remember Ms. Bryson, a teacher who made math feel like something you could understand, not something you were either “good” or “bad” at. Ms. Bryson is now retired, but after talking with her, it’s so clear that teaching was never just her job, but it was who she was as a person. During our interview, Ms. Bryson laughed

Sixth grade is already a year full of transitions, but taking life science during the height of COVID made it even more surreal. Classes were on Zoom, cameras were often off, and school felt distant in every sense of the word. Yet somehow, in the middle of all that uncertainty, Ms. Schueth created one of the most memorable, exciting, and genuinely joyful classes of my entire middle school experience. Even through a screen, her “classroom” felt alive. From the moment you logge

Mr. Adanto, my eighth grade U.S. History teacher, is someone whose passion for teaching is immediately clear the moment you step into his classroom. Teaching runs in his family, and it most definitely shows in his class too. His father worked as an administrator and instructor at Pasadena City College, his siblings are currently educators across different schools, and now his wife is an elementary school teacher. From an early age, Mr. Adanto was surrounded by people dedicate

Ms. Ryu, my sixth grade honors English teacher, is someone who made a lasting impact on me during one of the most unusual years of school possible. I had her during the online and hybrid year caused by COVID-19, when classrooms were replaced by screens and connections felt harder than ever. I first met Ms. Ryu on a zoom call to then a classroom full of face masks and social distancing, yet despite those challenges, Ms. Ryu still created a learning environment that was thought

If you went to Monterey Hills Elementary School, chances are you know Mr. Millar. Even if you never had him as your teacher, he’s one of those teachers everyone knows. I had him through the Monterey Hills Student Council program, and I was also lucky enough to know him outside the classroom as my softball coach, since I played alongside his daughters. No matter where you knew him from, Mr. Millar always had a presence on campus, forming lasting bonds with all students on camp

Ms. Pittman was my kindergarten teacher, and reconnecting with her now honestly feels like coming full circle. She’s one of those educators who doesn’t just teach kids how to read and write, but she has always cared about who they become as people. One of the most powerful things she shared is that she became a teacher partly because school wasn’t easy for her growing up. She wasn’t a strong test taker, and she remembered adults labeling her based on her test scores, which ma

When you walk into Mrs. Williams’ seventh grade life science classroom, you can tell right away it was built with intention. Everything has a purpose, not only for teaching science, but to help students feel safe, curious, and capable. Walking back in her class, I was instantly taken back to middle school. Mrs. Williams wasn’t only a teacher I knew on campus, but she was also my ASB advisor, and one of the adults who shaped what leadership, belonging, and confidence looked li

Talking with Ms. Hansen feels like sitting across from someone who is honest in the best way. She does not try to make her story sound perfect or linear, and that is exactly what makes it powerful. Because when you hear how she became a teacher, you realize something important. Sometimes the path that makes the most sense is the one that takes time. When I asked what inspired her to become a teacher, she said it started the way it starts for a lot of people who truly belong a

One of my favorite parts of my Spotlight Project is getting to sit down with teachers and hear about their journey and the stories that have made them who they are today. When I interviewed Mrs. Owens, my former second grade teacher, I immediately remembered how genuine she is. She is the kind of teacher who makes you feel comfortable right away, and when she talks about teaching, you can tell it was not just a job to her, instead it was something she truly loved for decades.

The first thing you notice when you talk to Mrs. Klotzle is that she is completely herself. Honest, funny, and grounded in a way that immediately puts you at ease. Even before we got into my questions, our conversation felt like picking up right where we left off, even though it has been years since I last saw her as she is now retired. As we caught up, she told me she is currently subbing off and on and enjoying the flexibility that comes with this stage of her life. She is

Some teachers stay with you long after you leave their classroom, even if you do not fully realize it until years later. For me, Ms. Thackery is one of those teachers. I recently reached out to her over email for my SPotlight project, and reading her responses felt like a full circle moment. She was one of the people who sparked my love for school, as her words instantly reminded me why her classroom always felt so special and unique. What stood out first to me was how natura

For this edition of SPotlight, I had the chance to reconnect with my former fifth grade teacher, Mrs. King. Talking with her reminded me why she was such an inspiring part of my own time in elementary school. Her journey into education started with one simple goal, which was to make her classroom a place where every student feels at home. When I asked what inspired her to become a teacher, she immediately thought back to her sixth-grade English teacher, Mrs. Russell. Middle s

When I sat down with Mrs. Trachtenberg for my SPotlight project, I expected to talk about lesson plans and teaching styles. Instead, I heard a story about purpose, change, and the unexpected ways a single moment can redefine someone’s entire life. She started by telling me that she hadn’t always planned on becoming a teacher. After college, she earned a business degree, only to realize that the path she’d chosen made her unhappy. “I was stuck after college,” she said. “So man