TEACHER
TRUE STORY: I was in the middle of a two-week middle school English/History sub assignment in Montebello. At the start of class one day as I stood before the students, I noticed more kids than expected. So I counted bodies and announced, "People, I have 30 names on the roster here, and there are 33 of you in the seats. Why is that?" Slowly, several hands went shyly up - kids who didn't belong. They'd actually snuck-in from other classes. "My teacher's so boring!" pleaded one girl. "Your students say you're so fun and they learn so much with you. Can I stay? Please!" I didn't want to make a big deal of it, disrupting the class, the administration, etc. So I asked the newcomers if they were prepared to do all the work my students would do today. They promised. And so I let them stay. Frankly, I understood what they meant about boring teachers and uninspiring classrooms, and I was flattered they wanted to be with me. In my world, that's what education should be; but sadly for so many students in so many schools, it isn't.
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I am an adjunct COLLEGE PROFESSOR teaching in the Computer Science & Information Systems Dept. at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA. Finally made it to the collegiate level! Not that that was my goal. To me, a student is a student. But being on a college campus is a great feeling - and a privilege.
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Before that, I worked through the Five Keys Charter School teaching Financial Literacy and Substance Abuse classes to Los Angeles area male and female PRISON INMATES at Men's Central Jail, Twin Towers Correctional Facility (where O.J. Simpson lived for a year before and during his trial) and Century Regional Detention Facility. Fascinating experience! Going into a "pod" (sort of a human fish bowl) and being surrounded by 40 or so criminals (some in for murder) who, but for the armed guards on the other side of the glass, could squash you like a bug! Gee, and I thought high school was tough!
Actually, the inmates are (for me) pretty receptive and easy - even pleasant - to teach. They know when you're sincere (which I am) and they appreciate when you go the extra mile to make the subject and material relevant, engaging and interesting. Also, they're so desperate for any distraction from the prison routine, and they know that misbehavior will get them kicked-out of the class and locked-up in their cell, that they are (usually) on their best behavior and very respectful toward teachers.
At the end of a course, I asked inmate Sean B., "What class are you taking next semester?" And his response was very flattering: "Whatever you're teaching!" Then there was Adolphus, a Crips gang-banger who told me I was the only teacher he had respect for. I even got a few non-standing ovations from my classes there in the pods - one from my class of Handicapped inmates who said that unlike other teachers, I really cared, and gave my best each day I was with them
For me, this display of humanity in such an inhuman place makes putting-up with the harsh prison environment worth it. That's why I teach, and why I've designed several arts-related courses in case I have the privilege of teaching there again in the future. After all, the absence of good teachers and the lack of interesting and relevant subject matter is how many of these poor people got off to bad starts in their lives. Even at this late date, I'd like to do what I can to change that for the better.
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I have five (5) California teaching credentials in ENGLISH, SOCIAL STUDIES, HEALTH, FOUNDATIONAL MATH (Algebra/Geometry) and MULTIPLE SUBJECT for the little kids. My student-teaching was completed at The Accelerated School in South LA and Benjamin Franklin High School in Highland Park. As a substitute, I've taught every grade level K-12 (plus a few stints in Special Ed) at public, private and charter schools in Los Angeles County communities such as South LA, Montebello, Long Beach and Pacific Palisades.
I've done PRIVATE TUTORING with college, middle and high school students and have worked at two after-school tutoring programs teaching English, Math, Creative Writing, Journalism, Public Speaking and Book Club classes. I taught ADULT EDUCATION Citizenship classes through Catholic Charities in Downtown LA, creating American history curriculum for green card holders looking to obtain U.S. citizenship. I also current teach Adult Ed classes through the Burbank Unified School District. My classes are fun, social and interesting. Students WANT to be there because they enjoy the experience and they enjoy learning.
I'm also licensed in California to teach DRIVERS ED and have trained shuttle bus drivers to pass their road tests and licensing exams at the DMV.