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This is Robert he works at Ventura College in EOPS and he is another person that has inspired me and my husband. 

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I feel like because I was a student that struggled and I had those teachers who cared. I feel like many people in my life have shape the way I looked at teachers. They not only gave me good strategies but found out what kind of person I am. I know teaching covers a lot of areas and some areas they choose to cover. They not only helped me but also advocated for me when my mom didn’t know how. I have grateful to have these people in my life. One I would like to recognize would be my EOPS counselor who always kept me and my husband accountable. He never let us make excuses and he showed us it can be done. He gave us encouragement and taught us what grit meant.
Aleena Velasquez Zapata

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My mama is my inspiration for not only life but the reason why I wanted to be a teacher.

My mom is a teacher as well and has been for over 15 years. I have always seen how much my Mom loves her job and I also have  a love for kids so I figured I would give it a shot. She works at Banyan Elementary in Conejo Valley as a 2nd grade teacher but switched only 2 years ago.

Growing up I got to spend time in her classroom, cutting lamination, grading papers, helping set up for the first day, and tearing down on the last.

Karissa Herbert

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Throughout my education I have had many great teachers. My elementary teachers are part of the reason why I want to be a teacher. Working with children is something I have always enjoyed. However, in high school I had an amazing teacher who organized an academy for students that wanted to pursue a career in education. Mr. Ehlers is who inspired me to become a teacher. Being in the academy pushed me more in wanting to be a teacher. I learned so much from the academy.

Denise Ramirez

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The person that inspires and inspired me is my mom. She is an immigrant from Guatemala and came here when she was 21. She didn't go to school past the age of 8 but even so she put me though school and because of her I am able to say I am a first gen. in receiving not only my High school diploma but my BA from CSUCI. When I was going to school to be a nurse I realized I had never seen my mom write and the only time she read was two books, the very hungry caterpillar and la pollita tita (but she says the only reason was because she memorized them so she didn't have to think twice about the words). Since then I remembered my passions for learning and children, and changed my path to teaching. I didn't have a good experience with teachers, schools, or learning and now my drive is remembering my moms desire for her children to have an education, and for my desire to learn but not having anyone to help guide me and making school a safe place for me. - Tina Ramirez

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My inspiration for becoming a teacher is my mom. My mom does not speak, read, or write in English, yet she always advocated for my sisters and I in school. I saw how hard it was for her to navigate the system. Oftentimes, since she didn’t speak the language, she wouldn’t get information from the school. Instead she connected with my aunts who had older children or family friends with children in the same grade. None of my elementary school teachers spoke Spanish. I still see this in schools today. Many of the schools I have worked in don’t have bilingual teachers to support their English learners. I’ve always enjoyed being the person that can help bridge that communication gap between parents and teachers. It’s important to communicate with parents because we are all partners in the student’s education. I also feel that it’s important for children to make that connection between home and school. If that connection isn’t there I feel that it makes it easier to lose them. I hope I can connect and build relationships with students so that I can better help them achieve their goals. - Elian Miranda Alvarado

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My first grade teacher has inspired my passion for becoming a teacher. The majority of my class was made up of English learners with many of our parents working in agriculture. Many of our parents primarily spoke Spanish only with little to no prior education. During this time I had many family issues going on. As an English learner it was difficult to read and write in a different language other than Spanish. My first grade teacher decide to start tutoring after school for those that needed that extra support. Many of my friends and I would stay for tutoring to improve in our reading and writing. She would lend us books, packets in order to practice at home. Something that stuck with me throughout the years was that she wouldn't hesitate to stay late whether it was for tutoring or parent conference. Throughout my journey I still continue to reflect back on the memories in that classroom. She create a safe environment for everyone to be themselves despite our different backgrounds. I hope to become a great teacher like her.

-Lourdes Rivera

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My third grade teacher, Mrs. Ohler, first inspired my passion for teaching. Third grade was the first year we started taking timed multiplication tests. I remember struggling with this so much, not because I didn't like math, but the stress of it being timed psyched me out and caused me to perform poorly on these tests. Mrs. Ohler noticed that I was doing well on my homework and in-class math activities, but struggled with the timed tests. She took it upon herself to make me flashcards and help me study and, eventually, I had them down and was able to pass the test. I will always remember the kindness and patience she showed me and cannot wait to do the same for my future students.
Cierra Smalling

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Someone who inspired me in my educational journey was my middle school teacher Ms. Edgar. I had her for 6th ELA, 7th grade ELA, and I got to be her TA in 8th grade. Going into middle school, I felt that my writing ability was lacking and wasn't confident in it. Ms Edgar took the time to work with me and helped me better my writing skills. She was always caring, willing to help, be a listening ear and was a constant safe person on campus. She made me realize what type of teacher I want to be because she didn't just treat you as a student. She treated you as a friend/family and made her classroom an extremely safe and comfortable learning environment. In the past, I would do everything I could to not have to write, but today, I turn to writing as my support in getting my feelings/emotions out and I truly feel that it was thanks to her.

- Maddy Ruffinelli

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My love for teaching was inspired by my first grade teacher Mrs. Viveros. As an English learner, I hesitated to participate in class activities and discussions because I was afraid my classmates would make fun of me. Mrs. Viveros spoke up about this in a parent teacher conference. She explained that most of my friends are also English learners and that I should not feel excluded. She created a safe space for me to talk even if my grammar and accent were not the best. From a young age, I realized I wanted to be like her someday. I wanted to be an educator who creates safe spaces for people who might now have that at home. When I was in high school, I actually went back to my elementary school and thanked her for being such a caring and supportive teacher.  As I am in this journey of becoming an educator, I hope I can someday be as great as she was.
-Odalis Hernandez

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Throughout my education I've had many amazing teachers; however, the teacher that inspired me to go to college is Mr. Lozano my 6th grade teacher. I remember vividly about the extra things that he would do for his students and community. He even created an after-school program for anybody in the community to come and take English classes with him free of charge. I would often stay after-school because as an English Learner, I wanted to improve my skills. Mr. Lozano also planted in me the seed of wanting to continue my education. He would often tells us about the statistics of Latino students that go and graduate from the university and that pushed me towards wanting to peruse my education and change those statistics. I was a very shy girl, so he would always give me that extra push to participate in many school activities like speech contests, track and soccer. I want to be for my students what that teacher was to me and be able to make a difference in their lives.
-Sandra Rios Gonzalez

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Ever since I was younger I knew I wanted to be a teacher. The biggest inspiration for me to be a teacher is my father. My dad went back to school to get his bachelors degree at the age of forty-one. My sister and I were both very young. I remember him staying up late finishing his homework, and having to drop me off early at school so he could get to class on time. He eventually got his multiple and single subject at CSUCI, and has been a teacher for over ten years now. Seeing the behind the scenes work of a teacher, and the  in person work with students has been a huge inspiration. I was also very blessed to have been in his class, and seen how great of a teacher he was. I love with my dad with all of my heart, and hope to be as good of a teacher as he is today. Seeing him inspire and teach kids math in such a great way makes me want to do the same.

Camille Prendergast

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I have had a few inspirational teachers in my life but my number one was my 12th grade honors economics teacher, Christian Gallo. The activities that he had in his class were interesting and fun. The best project that we did was the "Stocks Project", which at Ventura High School, was already quite well known by many not even in the 12th grade yet. In the project we had to invest fake money into stocks of our choice and track their progress. The group with the most profit wins. It was engaging and fun and maintained all of our interest. Also, Gallo was a musician and often him and I would talk at length about music and culture. He introduced me to bands that my feeble 17 year old brain was not ready to listen to yet. Now, as I start my journey into becoming a teacher I think of him because he inspired me to invest time and develop relationships with my students. We have to learn what they like and what inspires them as well. We can and should teach them more than just curriculum and standards.
Ray Mini

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My mother was a neurology physician but also took on many other roles such as the director for several programs: residency, fellowship, med student, mentorship, and a clinic and laboratory. She was a strong advocate for the LGBTQ community and women in medicine and collaborated on several books and projects with other female physicians. During her memorial, over 200 people from the hospital attended and many told stories of how she helped them during the course of her career. The stories ranged from her early days in med school with her fellow med students through the last year of her career. When someone would make a mistake, she would correct them in a way that would not embarrass that person, but also turn it into a positive learning experience. She advocated for her students and celebrated their accomplishments. She was always kind and gentle when her patients, colleagues, residents, and students were facing stressful situations. There were also countless stories about her supporting them through personal situations, family problems, and coming to terms with coming to terms with their sexuality. I want to be an good of an educator as she was even though she taught adults and I want to teach children. I admire her grace with supporting her students and colleagues. I strive to provide a learning environment for my students just like my mom provided for those around her in medicine.

Sofia Nist

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As an English learner, my first 3 years of education were not the best until I got to 4th grade and met Mrs. Cash (on the left side). Although she did not speak my native language, her dedication, and support in helping not only me but my parents was what made me want to be a teacher, but not any kind. I wanted to be a teacher who spoke two languages to be able to help future generations who have similar stories to mine. I never got the chance to tell her that my goal to become a teacher all started because of her. It wasn’t until three weeks before graduation I ran into her at an event I attended where I did my observation. I was so happy she recognized me and that's when I told her she is the reason why I want to be a bilingual teacher. She then invited me to my old Elementary and I got to see my other former teachers such as Mrs. Mechling (on the right side) my 6th-grade teacher who also supported me in so many ways. During my undergrad, I also had the honor to make connections with a lot of professors who supported me throughout my journey and who continue supporting me. Now I am in the Credential Program thanks to Dr. Drescher and Professor Duran who motivated me to continue working towards my goal. All the support from my early education teachers, parents, and professors is why I am here. I want to show how important bilingual education is and be a support system for students and families who may not have much knowledge of the education system like parents of many of us who are first generation  didn't have.
-Ciclali Valencia

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My godmother has been in the field of education for over 20 years and has been one of my biggest inspirations for wanting to become a teacher. I remember being as young as 10 years old and going to her classroom to help her during the summer. As I grew older, I found time to be a volunteer in her classroom throughout various school years. I’ve always admired the passion and dedication she carries in her teaching practice. Furthermore, the commitment she has held over the years to helping her students learn and grow has truly left one of the biggest impacts on me. As I continue on in my journey of becoming an elementary school teacher, I hope to carry on the same values that I’ve learned from her. I want to foster a safe and positive learning environment for all of my future students.
-Breanna Herrera

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A teacher that inspired me was my seventh grade math teacher, Ms. Feinbloom. I was a very shy student and would only say something if someone talked to me. She knew this about me, so there were times where should would ask a question and have me answer because she knew that I had the answer. Ms. Feinbloom put the effort in to get to know me and would even invite me to eat lunch in her room, so that we could chat and get to know each other. I had her for two years and even took a picture with her for my 8th grade graduation. Ms. Feinbloom inspired me to become a teacher because she went the extra mile to get to know me and this is the type of things I want to do as a teacher. She was a great support system and I plan on being a support system for my students and getting to know them on a personal level. I haven't been able to thank her for this because she moved from the school after I left and haven't been able to contact her. I do hope to one day contact her and tell her how she inspired me to become a teacher.
-Nydia Cordon

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I never wanted to be a teacher. I always wanted to be a lawyer. Ever since the age of six I wanted to be inside a courtroom prosecuting some criminal. I felt as if that would be my mark on the world. Fast forward sixteen years and the world was different and my comfort level for practicing law was different too. I'm 22 years old, and I don't know what I want to do with my life. I applied for an after school program in Santa Barbara and figured I would use this as a time to reset. I remember I was two months in and I was helping third graders with their homework. I still remember two students, I won't say their names, came up to me crying about math and how they were stupid. I sat them down and went over their math homework with them. It's strange I can't remember the actual assignment, but what I do remember, is their faces light up when it started to click. I said to them "You guys are smart" and they smiled from ear to ear. they gave me a hug and something clicked for me. I think I can do this. At 22, I found purpose again, I got my inspiration from two third graders to become a teacher.

Kendrick Ushera

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A teacher that inspired me was my 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Rude. When I started 2nd grade I went to a new school and this school was an all English school. At this time I only knew Spanish. My first year there was the worst and to top it off the teacher made me feel worse because she acted like I just wasn't even there. However, when I started 3rd grade right off the bat Mrs. Rude made me feel included and welcomed in her class. She always made sure I knew what was going on and she helped me when I was struggling. I remember so vividly that she once told me “I'll never leave you behind, I'm always going to help you”. This was a big deal to me because I felt like I didn’t belong at that school and I was always excluded because of the language barrier. She also never let anyone ever pick on me and always reminded me how smart I was. It is because of her I want to be an educator. I want to be an advocate for any students struggling and let them know that I believe in them no matter what.
-Xochitl Cuevas

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Mr. Garcia is the opposite of the stereotypical  type of teacher who's lectures consist of reading word from word from a powerpoint. He is a devoted, animated, and passionate professor from Cal State University Northridge. I admired the way he lead class because of his eagerness to get us out of our seats and engage in various activities that pertained to our lesson. He didn't depend on us having to memorize facts. Rather, thanks to his activities and his energetic style of teaching, curriculum was sticking to my brain far better than sitting down and reading something over and over. That is so boring. I admired the way Mr. Garcia made it a priority to learn your name and develop a student/teacher relationship with you. It really showed how much he cared. I am inspired to model my teaching techniques and methods off his leadership and style.

Marco Nares

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I was inspired to become an educator by my first grade teacher. She didn't inspired me because of how great of a teacher she was, but the other way around. I don't remember her actually treating us (her students) as students who are learning, she wanted us to know it already, but we were only first graders who were barely learning. I did elementary school in Mexico, and for someone who didn't speak Spanish, the first year was a challenge because I had to learn to read, write, and speak in Spanish. Although I learned Spanish pretty quick, I couldn't communicate with her because I wasn't comfortable speaking with her as she won't make an effort to talk to us. I remember seeing her pulling one of my classmates ear until she removed one earring by force. Having experienced all this, I wanted to become an educator to change this way of "educating" and be more inclusive by finding ways to communicate and motivate students to give their all to not only succeed academically but also to feel safe and be able to show who they are as individuals.

Veronica Altamirano

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A person who inspired me was my second grade teacher Mrs. Burnside. She motivated me to become an educator because of how she made me feel in the classroom. Mrs. Burnside understood that students should feel welcome and safe in the classroom to increase participation. In the past as a student, I wouldn't focus on lessons due to the fact that I was anxious and didn't want to get the wrong answer when called on. Mrs. Burnside provided an environment where I felt comfortable raising my hand to ask and answer questions. She made sure to build relationships with students and create a strong classroom community. I strive to do the same for my future students because of her.

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Someone who inspired me to become a teacher was Mrs. Habbick. She will always have a special place in my teaching career and life. She was not only my 2nd-grade teacher, but she was also my 4th-grade teacher and a friend. She was the first teacher in my life who I felt truly cared about their students’ success and growth in and out of the classroom, she even made it her duty to reach out to us during the summer. The first year I had Mrs. Habbick, she noticed I would become embarrassed and mess up my words when it came to reading out loud activities. When this happened, Mrs. Habbick would always seem to know the right thing to say or do. I remember her being so patient with me while giving me the confidence to speak up and “read with conviction”. I can hear her saying it now! Mrs. Habbick’s greatest lesson that she passed on to me as I look back on who inspired me to become a teacher was her ability to make every student feel valued, and my goal is to pass on that tradition!  make our class exciting and memorable.

Dalton Ventimiglia

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Someone who has inspired me was Ms. Hoffman. She was my kindergarten teacher. She created such a welcoming, safe, and comfortable classroom environment for her students. I struggled a lot with reading sight words and phonemic awareness in kindergarten, but she was so patient and encouraging with me. She is someone who continues to inspire me as a person and educator. I went into teaching because of Ms. Hoffman. I wanted to inspire young children and make an ever lasting impact on their learning and education just like she did with me!

Amanda Steele

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My aunt Blanca is a kindergarten teacher. When I was younger, I would always hear about her teaching adventures. It sparked my interest in teaching. As I grew up, I knew that I wanted to work with children. I considered what jobs I could do but teaching felt like the best match for me. I volunteered in my aunt's classroom a few times and fell in love with kindergarten. I knew that I wanted to work with younger children so I decided to get the multi-subject credential.

Breez Avalos

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Mr. Hill was my 4th grade teacher who realized that I couldn't read and took time out of his break time, almost every day, to teach me to read that year. At the end of the year, Mr. Hill presented me with a book, a real chapter book, as a gift that inspired me to become an avid reader. The book was Hurry Home, Candy. I loved the book. I went into teaching because of Mr. Hill. Like him, I wanted to inspire students to become the best they can be. Above is a recent photo of my old school
Sue

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Teachers (Mrs.Reveles, Mr.Ehlers, and Mrs. Garcia and many others)

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Teachers (Mrs.Reveles, Mr.Ehlers, and Mrs. Garcia and many others)

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Throughout my education years, I had many great teachers who inspired me to continue trying. Every teacher I had believed that I was able to accomplish my career goals. Mrs. Garcia was one of my first ELD teachers when I arrived in this country, she helped me to develop English skills and was there as a support system for me and my family. Mrs. Reveles was my Spanish teacher in high school. From the start, she helped me to find out information about four-year universities and even helped me to fill out the application when applying to CSUCI. Mr. Ehlers helped me to determine my decision to become a teacher, thanks to an amazing program he ran in high school. All of these teachers left a mark on me and influenced my whole career as a student and most likely as an educator. I was saddened by the recent passing of both Mrs. Reveles and Mrs. Garcia. Part of my accomplishment of becoming a teacher will forever be dedicated to them. I hope that I will be able to influence my students' lives just as these teachers influenced mine.
Michelle Gonzalez Gonzalez

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Alexander Wulff, Saticoy Elementary School, VUSD

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Alexander Wulff, Saticoy Elementary School, VUSD

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When I moved to California when I was 8 years old, I started at Saticoy Elementary School in Ventura Unified. It was an underserved school, but to a student like me, we never really noticed it.
I was initially inspired by my 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Garmon, to go to UC Davis and become a veterinarian. But plans change throughout your life, and so whenever I think on who truly inspired me to be passionate in my academics and career, I think on Alex Wulff, my fifth grade teacher. I will forever remember him as the man who gifted me my first pet, Escape`, my bearded dragon. At school though, Mr. Wulff was consistently at the forefront of technology in his classroom. He would show up every single day, ecstatic to see his students, always a radiant smile across his face across the campus. He was warm and and welcoming with students of all ages, and at the same time, ran a classroom which was designated the highest performing in the district with how well taught his curricula was. In class, we studied everything from biology and chemistry to literature and music. His bearded dragons in class were named Smaug and Bob, the former after a Lord of the Rings character. We traveled to Anacapa Island to see our studies in person, built robots, played competitive dodgeball, danced in performances for our families, and raised money for our classrooms through community outreach.
His passion for education and future generations are characteristics I truly hope to emulate in my own career, and as I begin my student teaching, witnessing teachers in my placement school have the same vibrancy for their work as he did, it rekindles my spirit every day.
It truly warms my heart to see he is still teaching in VUSD, now at DATA Middle School, running a technology center, integrated with the community, funded by grants for equipment, and creating change for every class that passes through his door. My hard work in my own education is a thank you, in every way imaginable, to the teachers who got me where I am today, and Alex Wulff is certainly the one who changed it all for me.

Rebecca Ransom

https://m.facebook.com/VenturaEducationPartnership/videos/launch-speaker-update-2019-alex-wulff/3316608655329470/