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This is my 1st year teaching. I teach first grade and I couldn't love my job more. I love my class so much and they will always be special to me because they are my first. The picture above was taken on the 101st first day of school, a few Fridays ago. The two people in this picture have brought me so much support this school year and have helped make my first year of teaching unbelievable. It is also Hannah's first year teaching (the teacher on my left). We went to high school together and worked for the same after school program. Now we teach together at the same school. It has made the journey to get here so much fun having someone to go through it with. She understands all of the feelings I am experiencing this year because she is going through the same thing. DeAnna (the teacher on my right) has been teaching for around fifteen years. She has been an incredible mentor, listener, and team member to me through out this school year. I know that I will most likely not be able to teach at the same school next year and that makes me sad. The school community as a whole is wonderful and supportive but  these two especially make going to work extra enjoyable.

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I have been an educator for five years and I still love showing my quirkiness daily in the classroom. I originally planned on becoming a high school teacher, but my first position offered was for middle school ELA. It was one of the biggest blessings in my life. I enjoy thrifting, watching spooky movies, fixing my Animal Crossing island, and sniffing books at Barnes and Noble until all people within a 12 foot radius immediately leave the vicinity. I'm super family oriented so everything I do is with my family and multiple pets. We are animal lovers to the point where we might be single-handedly keeping Petsmart afloat. I love reading Romeo and Juliet and the Tell-tale Heart with my 8th graders and organizing our Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos Festival each year.

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Since my teaching position became virtual for the remainder of the year, I was having a very hard time adjusting to life outside of the classroom. This past weekend, I moved to Auburn, CA! Before Covid, I had contemplated a move but I wasn't quite ready to be a little further from my family. In college, I was only 40 minutes away so I felt very safe being away from home. So even though it's only 2 1/2 hours away, this was a big step in independence for me. I love the mountains and one of my best friends lives here as well so it made perfect sense for me to give Auburn a try. I am very nervous at finding a new district to work in next year but, excited for this new venture. I would love any and all advice on moving away, making new friends, and job hunting!

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This is my 13th year teaching and I have only taught secondary math. I currently teach Algebra 2 and Statistics but I have taught all level of secondary math. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher but didn't decide on math until high school. I love my students and always try to make it to as many extracurricular activities that I can. I want to make sure they know I care.

I love spending time with my family too. We moved to Temecula, California six years ago and we are enjoying it. We don't have any family that live in California which means we get to travel to Texas, Colorado and Arizona to visit. We love the beach, camping, and Disneyland. Both of my kids are very active in sports and music. If we are not at a practice or game, we are at music lessons and recitals. If we are lucky enough to have some free time, we love to watch sports too. We are big fans of all the professional Arizona teams and the Olympics.

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It is an exciting weekend! My sister finally gave birth to my beautiful nephew. Baby Jude is the first boy in the family! I have 4 sisters, so we were very anxious to meet this little guy. The family is getting bigger and we couldn't be more grateful for God's wonderful blessings.

Sometimes I find it difficult to step way from the world of teaching. I take work home and I stay late to get things done. My nephew being born is a great reminder that there are other things in life that deserve my time and dedication. I am still trying to find a balance between teaching and my personal life.

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I have been a teacher for four years and have spent three of those years in 5th grade. I originally thought I would enjoy teaching the younger grades, but when I was moved from 1st to 5th grade, my opinion quickly changed. I loved first grade but the way I can connect, build relationships, and have academic conversations with my students in 5th grade, made me fall in love with that age.

I went to college at Sonoma State University and although I do not live there anymore, it is one of my favorite places. The rolling hills, beautiful sunsets, small-town feel, and generous people all made me fall in love with the area. Although I do not live there at the moment, I hope to one day move back and make more memories!

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While I love being a teacher, I also equally love road trips. This photo was taken in Oregon on my West Coast road trip. I took a road trip from California to Oregon, and to Washington. In Oregon, I was with three of my friends, and we hiked to the top of a hill. We ended up watching the most beautiful orange sunset! It is a core memory that I think about a lot!

Teaching can feel very overwhelming at times and be emotionally draining. I love planning mini-road trips in California or weekend trips to take care of my soul & rest. What do you do to rest?

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So I have been working here at Concordia University as a Graduate Assistant Swimming Coach for both the Men's and the Women's teams as I pursue 2 Masters degrees in Curriculum and Instruction along with Educational Technology.

I am always up at 4:50am Monday through Friday to coach the student-athletes of this amazing university. This was a snapshot of one of the many beautiful POV's as a coach in Irvine, CA. It is almost symbolic for the hard work located in our day that we face (the more gloomy area of the photo), but knowing that when our work is completed there are bigger and brighter opportunities waiting on the other side when finished (the sunny portion of the photo).

This is my substitution of teaching at the moment until my degrees are completed, but it has been an amazing ride so far!

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I am a biology teacher, and this is my 4th year of teaching. I love to be outdoors hiking with my family. I also love to travel and learn about new cultures. I have been to 13 or 14 countries, but I think one of my favorites was studying abroad in Spain. Europe is so easy to travel through, and I encourage everyone to study abroad. My hope is to take my family there someday so they can experience the beauty that I got to see every day.

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After a career in commercial architectural design, I knew I enjoyed mentoring my staff above all else. The opportunity to open the door to new experiences and knowledge has led me to pursue a master's degree in education, so that I am able to share my knowledge and passion on a larger platform. Being semi-retired is GREAT, but I do miss the daily interaction with team members, clients, and contractors. For the most part all are down-to-earth people, who are honest and value integrity. These are also some of the qualities I hope to bring to the classroom and studios, where students will learn understand that mistakes will happen, it’s how you react to the issue that establishes your reputation in the field. They will learn that being upfront on issues of misunderstanding and missed opportunities of asking questions for clarification and direction, are the only true mistakes to be made. That, as long as we all learn from our blunders, and put the information to good use and purpose, the same mistake will or should not occur again.

My passions are traveling, and I have been fortunate to see much of the world through skating in the past, but want to share it with my husband, who has not traveled beyond North America, Mexico, and Hawaii. It took me 20 years to get him to New York City, and now he appreciates the City too. I am a true believer in traveling outside of your comfort zone and getting to know and understand how people live, love and flourish in their countries. Having a broader perspective of other’s traditions allow one to be sensitive to their way of life. So, as soon as we can travel safely, we’re out of town & I can’t wait!

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I have been teaching for 9 years.  I am currently teaching fourth grade and it is by far my favorite grade to teach.  I love the teaching about California's rich history.

When I am not teaching I love spending time with my family. I have a two and a half year old son. We spend our time going on adventures. He loves going on walks, trips to the park and anything else outside. We spent the weekend in Redding where we got to visit the famous Sun Dial Bridge. it was a lot of fun.

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I am both a performing and teaching artist from Irvine, California. I grew up dancing at Orange County Song & Dance (OCSD) Co. in Westminster, CA, and, after high school, I earned my BFA in Music Theatre with a minor in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine. I spent the following four years in NYC pursuing a career in the performing arts, but I'm currently studying education in hopes to become a better teacher and expand my teaching opportunities. I have taught all age levels from 2 through adult, and my main goal is always joy and human connection. There is something so special about the place the arts has within humanity. I just got back from working professionally in NYC and Connecticut as the Associate Director/Choreographer, Dance Captain, and Swing for ACT of Connecticut's production of the new musical: Nickel Mines. It was such a breath of fresh air to get to help create this beautiful piece about forgiveness in the wake of the 2006 Nickel Mines School Shooting, and I'm excited to be able to share that experience with my students.

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I have taught TK for 11 years. I taught pre-k and kindergarten before but this is my favorite grade. They are the best age group. I recently showed my current class this picture from 2017. We will be celebrating the 100th day of school on Tuesday. I wanted them to see the posters the students made back then.
But something they said surprised me and almost made me cry.
"Teacher, you are not wearing your mask!" and another one said, "Did you forget to put it on?" It is difficult for them to understand that back then it was ok to be without a mask, in the classroom. I am always in awe of the things they notice and question. Definitely the best age-group.
The group in the picture is now in fourth grade.

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I am currently in my 4th year of teaching. I teach mathematics and I like to make the content relatable and show students that the best way to do math is to take risks and always be willing to try a problem. I enjoy being outside and exercising. I enjoy going on walks, going on nature hikes, playing at the parks with my family, and working out. I like exploring new places and going to the beach. I am able to clear my mind and have no trouble reflecting as I listen to the sound of the waves crashing on the beach.

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Now that the weather is warming up I am ready for summer! I love to go camping and explore new places. Anywhere near a body of water is my favorite! I feel so fortunate that I get summer break to spend time outside with friends and family!

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I've been in the field of education since I was 22 years old. I began teaching Kinder and worked my way up from there through many grades ending with middle school English and Social Studies before moving into Higher Education full time. Admittedly, I miss the kiddos but I love preparing the next generation of teachers and working with you all who want to elevate your practice as veteran teachers. In my spare time, I train for and compete in Ironman Triathlons, marathons and endurance trail runs. It keeps my mind busy and keeps me out of trouble ;)