New Teacher Raises the Bar for PE
Jessica Davis, former elementary school teacher, takes on high school.
By Rizwan Khan
Jessica Davis, former elementary school teacher, takes on high school.
By Rizwan Khan
After a year of online PE classes, students returning to campus will be put through their paces by one of Pioneer’s newest staff members, Jessica Davis.
Davis found her love for teaching after coaching high school softball, although she studied public relations at San Diego State. She spent 10 years as an elementary school PE teacher and is now figuring out the new environment of teaching at a high school.
“I saw a coaching position so I signed up to coach high school softball, and then that season I knew that I needed to get back into coaching and teaching,” said Davis. “High school has always been my passion, to teach high school, like PE, obviously my number one. I kind of just fell into the elementary position, and it was kind of comfortable and I stayed there for a while and then I saw that Pioneer had a position available.”
After staying in San Diego for a while after graduating, Davis moved back to San Jose by her parents’ encouragement.
“When I was still living in San Diego after college I was trying to get into teaching at the school I coached at but when I graduated college it was like a recession. Jobs were few and far in between, so I was teaching in San Diego and coaching, but I also had a third job at a grocery store because we were in the middle of a recession at the time, so I was trying to make extra money and it was actually a long term subbing position, it wasn’t a contracted position.” Davis said.
Davis enjoys the stimulation and is happy for something new. She thinks that her students and fellow teachers and staff have made the transition easier for her and feel welcomed. It has been easier for her to get used to her students.
“An advantage I think I have as a teacher is that I know some of the freshmen, so it brings a different dynamic. It brings something new and unique to the department. I taught elementary schools in San Jose Unified, so I was at a bunch of different elementary schools. So this year I’m noticing that I have a lot of my former students from when they were in fourth and fifth grade,” said Davis.
PE Department Chair Julie Szarlacki has noticed that the transition has been challenging for Davis because of the difference in settings from elementary school to high school. Despite that, Szarlacki thinks Davis is doing great and adapting well to the new environment.
“I think it’s definitely been a challenge because she’s never taught high school before, she came from elementary school, so I think that has been a challenge in itself, your dealing with different aged kids, older kids, and so you can’t treat them the same as you would elementary school kids, you have to have a different approach,” said Szarlacki. “I think she is doing great, it’s difficult to come and teach sports that you’ve never been really taught before and so she’s been very open to learning and she asks a lot of really good questions, so I think that’s been very helpful for her, she’s very open minded.”
Szarlacki said she thinks Davis also fits in with the culture of the department and the specific needs of Pioneer’s physical education classes.
“She’s been great so far. She's very flexible. In this department everyone shares classrooms, we share equipment, and so the main thing you have to have in this department is being flexible, be willing to change plans at the last minute,” said Szarlacki.
Sean Purvis, 9, has Davis third period and appreciates her class, and has been enjoying the units so far.
“She is a nice teacher and the units have been fun so far. I think she pushes us a lot to do better. I really enjoyed playing soccer and frisbee. I look forward to the basketball unit.”
Although it has been a big change from elementary school to high school, Davis is feeling confident and is excited for this year.
“It’s been a really easy transition. I feel comfortable,” said Davis “I am a hard worker and a good listener and I am determined to get whatever job needs to be completed.
Davis found her love for teaching after coaching high school softball, although she studied public relations at San Diego State. She spent 10 years as an elementary school PE teacher and is now figuring out the new environment of teaching at a high school.
“I saw a coaching position so I signed up to coach high school softball, and then that season I knew that I needed to get back into coaching and teaching,” said Davis. “High school has always been my passion, to teach high school, like PE, obviously my number one. I kind of just fell into the elementary position, and it was kind of comfortable and I stayed there for a while and then I saw that Pioneer had a position available.”
After staying in San Diego for a while after graduating, Davis moved back to San Jose by her parents’ encouragement.
“When I was still living in San Diego after college I was trying to get into teaching at the school I coached at but when I graduated college it was like a recession. Jobs were few and far in between, so I was teaching in San Diego and coaching, but I also had a third job at a grocery store because we were in the middle of a recession at the time, so I was trying to make extra money and it was actually a long term subbing position, it wasn’t a contracted position.” Davis said.
Davis enjoys the stimulation and is happy for something new. She thinks that her students and fellow teachers and staff have made the transition easier for her and feel welcomed. It has been easier for her to get used to her students.
“An advantage I think I have as a teacher is that I know some of the freshmen, so it brings a different dynamic. It brings something new and unique to the department. I taught elementary schools in San Jose Unified, so I was at a bunch of different elementary schools. So this year I’m noticing that I have a lot of my former students from when they were in fourth and fifth grade,” said Davis.
PE Department Chair Julie Szarlacki has noticed that the transition has been challenging for Davis because of the difference in settings from elementary school to high school. Despite that, Szarlacki thinks Davis is doing great and adapting well to the new environment.
“I think it’s definitely been a challenge because she’s never taught high school before, she came from elementary school, so I think that has been a challenge in itself, your dealing with different aged kids, older kids, and so you can’t treat them the same as you would elementary school kids, you have to have a different approach,” said Szarlacki. “I think she is doing great, it’s difficult to come and teach sports that you’ve never been really taught before and so she’s been very open to learning and she asks a lot of really good questions, so I think that’s been very helpful for her, she’s very open minded.”
Szarlacki said she thinks Davis also fits in with the culture of the department and the specific needs of Pioneer’s physical education classes.
“She’s been great so far. She's very flexible. In this department everyone shares classrooms, we share equipment, and so the main thing you have to have in this department is being flexible, be willing to change plans at the last minute,” said Szarlacki.
Sean Purvis, 9, has Davis third period and appreciates her class, and has been enjoying the units so far.
“She is a nice teacher and the units have been fun so far. I think she pushes us a lot to do better. I really enjoyed playing soccer and frisbee. I look forward to the basketball unit.”
Although it has been a big change from elementary school to high school, Davis is feeling confident and is excited for this year.
“It’s been a really easy transition. I feel comfortable,” said Davis “I am a hard worker and a good listener and I am determined to get whatever job needs to be completed.