“Students deserve educators who are knowledgeable about what they teach but also understanding of their students' diverse needs.”

Hometown

Waipahu, Oʻahu

Department

School of Teacher Education - Secondary

Related Degrees

• BEd, Secondary Education

Where do you work?
I’ve been a math teacher at my alma mater, Waipahu High School, for the past three years.

How did you become interested in the field of education?
At the beginning of my high school journey, I saw myself becoming a civil engineer. I did everything that a future engineer would do. For example, I took engineering classes, became certified in computer-aided design (CAD) software, joined the robotics club and math team, and took advanced math and science classes. However, in my junior year, I started to lose interest in becoming an engineer. While that was happening, I took on more leadership roles on my robotics team and mentored some of the new members of our team. I found this much more fun than building and programming robots ever was. Honestly, becoming a teacher was always in the back of my mind, as both of my parents were teachers in the Philippines. So, in my senior year, I took the teacher education elective offered at my school. I got to do a bit of classroom observation, lesson planning, and teaching. I loved it. I discovered that I had a passion for working with students and helping them master difficult concepts. Ever since then, I have been set on the idea of a career in education.

Do you work or participate in any clubs or organizations in or outside of teaching?
I am one of the advisors for our school’s Math Team and one of the head proctors of the Oʻahu Math League.

How has the COE program impacted or benefitted your career path?
My time in the College of Education has helped me develop the skills and mindset needed to effectively work with students today. I learned how to write and deliver lesson plans that allow me to differentiate to a wide range of student needs, refine my instruction to challenge students to think deeply about the math they are doing, and solidify my role in the fight for social justice. Above all, I developed the habit of constantly reflecting upon my instruction. Now, just as I did when I was in the College of Education, I often find myself looking through the student work I have collected and thinking about what went well and what could have gone better each day. Reflecting upon my practice allows me to continuously refine what I do as an educator.

Is there anyone in particular who inspired you to become a teacher?
Both of my parents were teachers in the Philippines (and my father currently is a teacher too!), so they were very supportive of me wanting to become a teacher in high school. However, I chose to go into math to follow in the footsteps of my math teachers. My 6th grade teacher validated how I saw certain processes differently. My math teacher for 7th and 8th grade helped me build confidence in my ability to do math well. My math teacher for Algebra 2 and AP Calculus BC pushed me to refine my skills, challenged me to think deeply about what I was learning, and allowed me to develop an appreciation for math as a subject. Many of my peers did not like math, which I found odd because I grew to love the subject because of the amazing teachers that I had. Thus, I wanted to be who my former teachers were to me for each of my future students and hopefully help more students appreciate the subject just as much as I do.

What is your philosophy of teaching?
Students deserve educators who are knowledgeable about what they teach but also understanding of their students’ diverse needs. They deserve educators who are not afraid to challenge them to grow as students and people but are also patient with them as they encounter difficulty. In terms of math, which should be made relevant to students and their lives. Teaching the subject should allow students to think critically about what they are doing, develop soft skills in collaboration and communication, and empower them with the mathematical understanding needed to thrive in the future.

What would your students be surprised to know about you?
If I did not go into education, I likely would have gone into welding!

Would you encourage others to become educators?
Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions out there. If you are passionate about being or even growing into the kind of educator that our students today deserve, by all means, you should look into becoming a teacher.