Here They Come, the New Mustang History Teachers
As Pioneer heads into the 2022-23 school year, the history department gains two new staff members.
By Bibi Sediqi
As Pioneer heads into the 2022-23 school year, the history department gains two new staff members.
By Bibi Sediqi
At the end of last school year, Pioneer lost two teachers in the history department. Luckily, following this loss, they welcomed two new teachers, Darlene Dueck and Alan Smart.
“Pioneer was a school I was familiar with when I lived in South San Jose and had several friends that attended the school that spoke very highly of the school,” said Smart.
Prior to becoming a teacher, Smart attended San Jose State University where he originally started as a business major but ended up earning a teaching credential.
“In my past I planned to design and code games but that did not go as planned when I didn't enjoy coding. I settled on business and finally transitioned to teaching, which I enjoy very much,” said Smart. “I graduated from SJSU with a bachelors in business and single-subject credential in Social Science. In the business world managing employees, I found that teaching new hires was the only part of my job I found interesting, so I decided to take what I enjoyed about my job and a passion for history to become a teacher.”
Darlene Dueck also joined Pioneer’s history department for the 2022-23 school year.
As Dueck grew up, she developed a passion for teaching and knew she wanted to become a teacher of some sort as her future career.
“I grew up in Brazil where I learned to value and appreciate many cultures. I always knew that I would be working in some form or another in the field of education. At first I wanted to teach English to students who were learning English as a second language. However, early in my career, I developed a love for history. As a result, I went back to school to take the courses needed for a single subject credential in history,” said Dueck.
Students such as Anoushey Sandhu, 10, feel that Dueck helps them stay attentive in class while at the same time promoting school spirit in order to keep students involved
“I like how Mrs. Dueck makes sure we are always engaged whenever she is talking and always reminds us to write down our homework, so we don’t forget things,” said Sandhu. “She also reminds us of school events and I know she’s really into school spirit so I like how she makes us engaged in it too,” said Sandhu.
As students are settling into the school year, many have a positive attitude towards their new history teacher.
“I think Mr. Smart is a good teacher. He is easy on the grading, and doesn't give us difficult work, it is pretty manageable in my opinion,” said Ila Jay, 10. “He is a very good teacher overall I would say.”
Katie Vezien, 11, also feels that Smart’s teaching style, using straightforward lessons and simple assignments, has been very effective and understandable.
“I think Mr. Smart is good at wording information. He speaks in a way that is clear and easily understandable,” said Vezien, “In Mr. Smart's class we often take notes from a slide show. Although, I think we gain a lot of information. It would be nice to switch it up a little.”
Coming from Castillero Middle School, where she taught for 15 years, Dueck has had many previous experiences that she brings to the history department.
“I was very surprised to have Ms. Dueck because I had her at Castillero Middle School back in seventh grade,” said sophomore Ruby Ramirez. “I was also very excited to see if she remembered me, which she did, and to see if her teaching styles changed at all, or if I would be familiar with it from seventh grade.”
Despite Dueck being new to teaching at Pioneer, she has had experience with Pioneer from a different perspective.
“Ever since my two now-adult children went to Pioneer as students, I knew that one day I wanted to come here to teach. I absolutely love the positive energy and the variety of options available for students here to pursue their academics, athletics and interests,” said Dueck.
Teaching United States history for juniors and world history for sophomores, Smart has implemented more engaging assignments for students. Taylor Pembrook, 11, one of Smart’s students, has enjoyed his class so far.
“I like the assignments we’ve done so far, they’re not super complicated and they are interesting. I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to U.S. history stuff, so I’m excited to just learn more than I already know,” said Pembrook.
“Pioneer was a school I was familiar with when I lived in South San Jose and had several friends that attended the school that spoke very highly of the school,” said Smart.
Prior to becoming a teacher, Smart attended San Jose State University where he originally started as a business major but ended up earning a teaching credential.
“In my past I planned to design and code games but that did not go as planned when I didn't enjoy coding. I settled on business and finally transitioned to teaching, which I enjoy very much,” said Smart. “I graduated from SJSU with a bachelors in business and single-subject credential in Social Science. In the business world managing employees, I found that teaching new hires was the only part of my job I found interesting, so I decided to take what I enjoyed about my job and a passion for history to become a teacher.”
Darlene Dueck also joined Pioneer’s history department for the 2022-23 school year.
As Dueck grew up, she developed a passion for teaching and knew she wanted to become a teacher of some sort as her future career.
“I grew up in Brazil where I learned to value and appreciate many cultures. I always knew that I would be working in some form or another in the field of education. At first I wanted to teach English to students who were learning English as a second language. However, early in my career, I developed a love for history. As a result, I went back to school to take the courses needed for a single subject credential in history,” said Dueck.
Students such as Anoushey Sandhu, 10, feel that Dueck helps them stay attentive in class while at the same time promoting school spirit in order to keep students involved
“I like how Mrs. Dueck makes sure we are always engaged whenever she is talking and always reminds us to write down our homework, so we don’t forget things,” said Sandhu. “She also reminds us of school events and I know she’s really into school spirit so I like how she makes us engaged in it too,” said Sandhu.
As students are settling into the school year, many have a positive attitude towards their new history teacher.
“I think Mr. Smart is a good teacher. He is easy on the grading, and doesn't give us difficult work, it is pretty manageable in my opinion,” said Ila Jay, 10. “He is a very good teacher overall I would say.”
Katie Vezien, 11, also feels that Smart’s teaching style, using straightforward lessons and simple assignments, has been very effective and understandable.
“I think Mr. Smart is good at wording information. He speaks in a way that is clear and easily understandable,” said Vezien, “In Mr. Smart's class we often take notes from a slide show. Although, I think we gain a lot of information. It would be nice to switch it up a little.”
Coming from Castillero Middle School, where she taught for 15 years, Dueck has had many previous experiences that she brings to the history department.
“I was very surprised to have Ms. Dueck because I had her at Castillero Middle School back in seventh grade,” said sophomore Ruby Ramirez. “I was also very excited to see if she remembered me, which she did, and to see if her teaching styles changed at all, or if I would be familiar with it from seventh grade.”
Despite Dueck being new to teaching at Pioneer, she has had experience with Pioneer from a different perspective.
“Ever since my two now-adult children went to Pioneer as students, I knew that one day I wanted to come here to teach. I absolutely love the positive energy and the variety of options available for students here to pursue their academics, athletics and interests,” said Dueck.
Teaching United States history for juniors and world history for sophomores, Smart has implemented more engaging assignments for students. Taylor Pembrook, 11, one of Smart’s students, has enjoyed his class so far.
“I like the assignments we’ve done so far, they’re not super complicated and they are interesting. I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to U.S. history stuff, so I’m excited to just learn more than I already know,” said Pembrook.