New English Teachers Enjoy Welcoming
Two new teachers have joined the Mustang English department this year.
By Sydney Teves
Two new teachers have joined the Mustang English department this year.
By Sydney Teves
After Andrew Barlam’s departure last year, the English department was left with another open space on top of one that had been unfilled last year.
Filling those spots are Megan Brown, who taught at Castillero Middle School for the past two years, and Ashley Pham, who most recently taught at a charter school in Stockton.
Brown, who went to San Jose State and University of Southern California, teaches English 5/6 and the senior Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum, and Pham, who attended the University of the Pacific and Chapman University, teaches English Language Development and Ethnic Studies Literature. Both teachers, who have been pleased with how they were welcomed to Pioneer, are hoping to leave a lasting impact on campus, which is both of their main reasons for wanting to become teachers.
Taking on what she learned from teaching at Castillero for two years, Brown wants to implement a more engaging and unique approach to educating students.
“I would love for my students to start taking on teaching lessons,” said Brown. “It’s really daunting for students at first, but I think once students get comfortable I’ll give them the opportunity to teach a lesson that I already have. And I think it's a good opportunity because they can kind of be in a different pair of shoes.”
As a student in Brown's ERWC class, Dominic Rosetto, 12, has really benefited from her teaching style, as well as the creativity of the assignments they have completed so far.
“She's a nice teacher and I like that she explains really well what we need to do,” said Rosetto.
After working at a charter school, Pham was excited for a change that Pioneer was able to offer. So far she has been delighted by the experience she has had at Pioneer.
“I always wanted to work at a public school and it hasn't fallen short of my expectations,” said Pham. “I feel like there's such an open door policy and a lot of resources offered to new teachers that I feel like I've gotten acclimated pretty comfortably.”
Alexa Cruz, 10, a student in Pham’s sophomore Ethnic Studies Literature class, loves the way Pham teaches them about oppression and how to fight for what’s right. Cruz also noted the advantage to having a teacher who is truly passionate about their job.
“I can see that she is very organized, very prepared and that she really does enjoy what she's teaching which helps me understand the concept,” said Cruz.
Brown’s philosophy when it comes to teaching has always been that teachers have to be able to change what they’re doing on the fly to adapt to students’ needs. She also believes that equity in education is the most important thing. These two beliefs have helped shape the way she teaches and shape the kind of effect she wants to have on students.
“I feel like there are a lot of teachers that make a difference in your life and if I could be a teacher like that for one person or two, I'd be happy,” said Brown.
Like Brown, Pham wants her dream of teaching, which she has had since high school, to create positive change in her student’s life.
“I think education is just one way that I can make an impact in the world,” said Pham.
Filling those spots are Megan Brown, who taught at Castillero Middle School for the past two years, and Ashley Pham, who most recently taught at a charter school in Stockton.
Brown, who went to San Jose State and University of Southern California, teaches English 5/6 and the senior Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum, and Pham, who attended the University of the Pacific and Chapman University, teaches English Language Development and Ethnic Studies Literature. Both teachers, who have been pleased with how they were welcomed to Pioneer, are hoping to leave a lasting impact on campus, which is both of their main reasons for wanting to become teachers.
Taking on what she learned from teaching at Castillero for two years, Brown wants to implement a more engaging and unique approach to educating students.
“I would love for my students to start taking on teaching lessons,” said Brown. “It’s really daunting for students at first, but I think once students get comfortable I’ll give them the opportunity to teach a lesson that I already have. And I think it's a good opportunity because they can kind of be in a different pair of shoes.”
As a student in Brown's ERWC class, Dominic Rosetto, 12, has really benefited from her teaching style, as well as the creativity of the assignments they have completed so far.
“She's a nice teacher and I like that she explains really well what we need to do,” said Rosetto.
After working at a charter school, Pham was excited for a change that Pioneer was able to offer. So far she has been delighted by the experience she has had at Pioneer.
“I always wanted to work at a public school and it hasn't fallen short of my expectations,” said Pham. “I feel like there's such an open door policy and a lot of resources offered to new teachers that I feel like I've gotten acclimated pretty comfortably.”
Alexa Cruz, 10, a student in Pham’s sophomore Ethnic Studies Literature class, loves the way Pham teaches them about oppression and how to fight for what’s right. Cruz also noted the advantage to having a teacher who is truly passionate about their job.
“I can see that she is very organized, very prepared and that she really does enjoy what she's teaching which helps me understand the concept,” said Cruz.
Brown’s philosophy when it comes to teaching has always been that teachers have to be able to change what they’re doing on the fly to adapt to students’ needs. She also believes that equity in education is the most important thing. These two beliefs have helped shape the way she teaches and shape the kind of effect she wants to have on students.
“I feel like there are a lot of teachers that make a difference in your life and if I could be a teacher like that for one person or two, I'd be happy,” said Brown.
Like Brown, Pham wants her dream of teaching, which she has had since high school, to create positive change in her student’s life.
“I think education is just one way that I can make an impact in the world,” said Pham.