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Teacher Spotlight: Ednovate’s Kyle Perez-Robinson on mentoring 19 girls through all 4 years of high school, breaking down barriers for future Latina scientists and missing her students over summer break
This interview is one in a series spotlighting Los Angeles teachers, their unique and innovative classroom approaches, and their thoughts on how the education system can better support teachers in guiding students to success. Having the privilege of receiving abundant support from teachers and family throughout her life, Kyle Perez-Robinson thought it was her duty...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | January 8, 2020
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Teacher Spotlight: Excelencia’s Amber Lewis on getting 81% of her students proficient in math, why teaching is harder than it looks and making sure her kids never feel failed by the system
This interview is one in a series spotlighting Los Angeles teachers, their unique and innovative classroom approaches, and their thoughts on how the education system can better support teachers in guiding students to success. Letting her students guide their own instruction and learning from each other has been one of the keys to success for...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | December 11, 2019
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Teacher Spotlight: Synergy Academy’s Paulina Morales on teaching culturally relevant history, being excited about Teen Court and loving graduation day
This interview is one in a series spotlighting Los Angeles teachers, their unique and innovative classroom approaches, and their thoughts on how the education system can better support teachers in guiding students to success. For a history teacher like Paulina Morales, there has not been a better time than now to engage students in learning...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | December 4, 2019
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Teacher Spotlight: KIPP Corazon’s Michelle Torres on preparing students to navigate the system better than she did, championing restorative justice and appreciating her trusting parents
This interview is one in a series spotlighting Los Angeles teachers, their unique and innovative classroom approaches, and their thoughts on how the education system can better support teachers in guiding students to success. Michelle Torres never planned to become a teacher but her own struggles as a college student made her realize that through...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | November 20, 2019
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Teacher Spotlight: KIPP Iluminar Academy’s Mercedes Jimenez on preparing her 3rd-graders for college, why Latino parents are sometimes scared to ask questions and the goal charter and district schools share
This interview is one in a series spotlighting Los Angeles teachers, their unique and innovative classroom approaches, and their thoughts on how the education system can better support teachers in guiding students to success. Teaching low-income Latino students in East Los Angeles didn’t happen by chance for Mercedes Jimenez, a third-grade teacher at KIPP Iluminar...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | November 13, 2019
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Teacher Spotlight: Lokrantz Special Ed Center’s Steven Rude on the critical role school psychologists play, why being recognized is important and starting a community garden for preschoolers and their parents
This interview is one in a series spotlighting Los Angeles teachers, their unique and innovative classroom approaches, and their thoughts on how the education system can better support teachers in guiding students to success. Steven Rude has spent nearly 30 years working as a school psychologist for Los Angeles Unified School District, supporting students experiencing...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | November 6, 2019
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Teacher Spotlight: Daniel Helena brings his own experiences in helping retain more teachers of color in L.A. classrooms
This interview is one in a series spotlighting Los Angeles teachers, their unique and innovative classroom approaches, and their thoughts on how the education system can better support teachers in guiding students to success. In an attempt to find the answer to why teachers of color across the nation leave their classrooms at a higher...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | October 30, 2019
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Teacher Spotlight: Columbus Middle School teacher Carol Park on why she never left middle school, forging a college path for students and families and leading with her heart
This interview is one in a series spotlighting Los Angeles teachers, their unique and innovative classroom approaches, and their thoughts on how the education system can better support teachers in guiding students to success. Carol Park doesn’t take lightly the responsibility of teaching what she calls the “underseen” middle school student. With most of the...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | October 23, 2019
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Teacher Spotlight: Napa Street’s Polly Buller-Ulm on encouraging parents of special-needs students to ‘dream big’ for them
This interview is one in a series spotlighting Los Angeles teachers, their unique and innovative classroom approaches, and their thoughts on how the education system can better support teachers in guiding students to success. After more than 20 years working in the insurance industry, Polly Buller-Ulm thought it wasn’t too late to pursue what she...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | October 16, 2019
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Teacher Spotlight: Florence Griffith Joyner Elementary School’s Veronica Amis, 34 years of teaching in Watts with ‘unconditional love’
This interview is one in a series spotlighting Los Angeles teachers, their unique and innovative classroom approaches, and their thoughts on how the education system can better support teachers in guiding students to success. Veronica Amis was born in St Louis, Missouri but she moved to Los Angeles with her family in 1963 when she...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | October 9, 2019