Bios

Sarah

I’m Sarah, science teacher and student wrangler.  Teaching first made my heart happy in the summer of 2005, when I taught English classes in Bangkok, Thailand. I left with a deep love for the wonderful people, Thai iced coffee in plastic bags and most of all, a true calling.  In 2009 I completed my credential and had the privilege of teaching at multiple sites of a Los Angeles charter school for at-risk teens.  In the past several years I’ve taught Earth Science, Biology, Physical Science, and Conceptual Physics.  Recently, I worked with a small team to re-write our school’s Biology and Physics curriculum to align with the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned.  My mama heart is happy when I spend time with my daughter, and when my heart is tired, I indulge in some quality television (Real Housewives!).

CONTRIBUTORS

Deanna

Hi! I’m Deanna.  At the core of my teacher heart is my passion for advocacy. After interning with a community development organization and tutoring elementary school students in a predominantly immigrant neighborhood in college, I knew I wanted to teach these brilliant and talented students.  I graduated from Azusa Pacific University in 2008 with a BA in Global Studies and went on to complete my Multiple Subject Credential in 2009, and finally adding my Single Subject ELD credential in 2017.  I spent the first 6 years of my career teaching in Watts and Compton, and then transitioned to working with English Language Learner students as an EL Specialist and eventually became an EL Coach.  I am passionate about culturally responsive teaching and unlocking students’ abilities to express themselves, whether in their home language or English.  Language is essential not only for academic success, but also to the human experience.  After all,❝Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow.❞ ‒Oliver Wendell Holmes

Beyond nerding out on words and how we use them, it makes my heart happy to spend time with my husband, our 2 young children, drinking coffee (preferably while catching up with a friend), reading, or trying a new recipe.  

Lauren

My name is Lauren. My teacher heart was born in a class about educational equity at San Francisco State and blossomed in the English credential program at Cal State Long Beach in 2011.  My love for classroom management was honed at a middle school in South LA where I taught 6th Grade English and Reading Intervention (#BossyTeacherHeart).  Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to teach high school and recently to have become an Instructional Coach.  My hope is to ignite even the most disgruntled of teacher hearts.  I truly believe every teacher can be a great teacher.  I nerd out on nice pens, planner stickers, and a good book.  My at-home teacher heart skips a beat for my husband, our dog, our foster dog, and our cat.  You can find me on twitter @laurencoaching