Aspire Teacher Residency Bay Area at Alder GSE

Resident, Cohort 2018–2019
Residency Placement: Aspire Golden State College Preparatory Academy
Mentor: Deanna Beach

What Is Your Hometown? Oakland, California

What College Did You Attend? UC Berkeley

What Degree Did You Earn? BA in English

What Inspired You to Teach? I have always known I wanted to work with kids, but did not have a set goal on how this work would take place. When I graduated from college, I got a chance to work in the educational field as an assistant in the Credentials department and I became aware of how high the need is for teachers in California. I reflected on my own K-12 experience and thought about how many teachers shaped me into the person I am today, so I then decided to take a leap of faith and join the field of education as a teacher. Who knows? Maybe in 10 years somebody can look back and think of me as someone who helped shaped their life!

Why Did You Choose Alder’s Teacher Residency Program at Aspire Public Schools? I knew that when I went into teaching, I needed to be prepared in more than just a theoretical sense; I knew I wanted to practice what I was learning while I was learning it. Alder is the perfect combination of everything I wanted in a program. I’ll be teaching in East Oakland in the community in which I grew up. I am excited and grateful that because of Alder and Aspire pairing residents with a mentor teacher so we can grow and find our own footing as educators, I will be ready to be the best educator I can be for my students.