I want to help students rediscover their curiosity. I hope to instill in my students that asking questions is a great way to start and to not be afraid to try new things to propel them forward in solving a problem in math and in real life.”
Alma’s Story
Teaching Discipline
Mathematics
Why Mathematics
“The way people perform in math influences the way that people interact with it. Hence, a student who is “bad” at math might feel limited in the careers that he or she chooses to pursue due to previous math experiences. But, there are no people that are innately “good” or “bad” at math. Instead, we need to broaden the definition of succeeding in math from answering a set of calculations and following procedures to a way of thinking and working together to find and explain solutions to many different kinds of problems.”
Volunteer Experience
While in high school, Alma mentored elementary school students and tutored students of varying grade levels in mathematics. While in college, she was afforded the opportunity to observe teachers in various contexts through the CalTeach program. During her classroom visits, she offered academic assistance to students in need.
Professional Experience
During her undergraduate career, Alma worked as a peer counselor in the Early Academic Outreach Program at the University of California, Los Angeles. Through the program, she advised high seniors on the college application process.
She also taught confirmation classes for high school teens at the local Catholic church to help students further explore and learn about their faith. As director of SEARCH, a three-day religious retreat for 120 teens, she led a team of more than 60 volunteers. While at the retreat, she served as moderator, leading participants through talks, activities, and reflections designed to help them think about the impact of their actions.
Additionally, Alma worked as a City Year Los Angeles Corps Member. In this role, she used a variety of instructional strategies to support the learning of middle school students.
Hobbies
Alma enjoys hiking, cooking, playing volleyball, working with her church youth group and spending time with family.
Academic Background
- Stanford University (Master of Arts in Education)
- University of California, Los Angeles (Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Mathematics and Education Minors)