By: Ami R., Ishan J., Logan S., Mason P., Sid A., and Yash P.
Mrs. Collins is a 6th-grade Humanities LED at Design39Campus. She likes to teach 6th grade because of the A/B schedules. She particularly likes the variety that the A/B schedule provides. She decided to teach 6th grade because she started her career that way, and thought she would like to end it that way. Additionally, she prefers to focus on one subject (Humanities), rather than educating all topics. Mrs. Collins loved Science as a kid. She was particularly interested in Anatomy and Physiology and wanted to be a Physical Therapist. Mrs. Collins would advise students coming into 6th grade to find a method of organizing their materials, work, and time that works for them. During the school year, she is most excited about the 6th-Grade Camp at Cuyamaca Outdoor School and the upcoming mid-year parent exhibition for middle school. Mrs. Collins has taught for 35 years, since 1987. She decided to become an LED because she didn’t find teachers that she admired, and wanted to change that. Mrs. Collins does not like to give out additional homework, and only assigns her students work to finish what has been started in class. She has taught elementary school before but prefers teaching older students. Outside of school, she enjoys cooking and playing golf.
Mr. Stephan is a 6th-grade Humanities teacher. He wanted to teach sixth grade because it is the beginning of middle school and a transition year. He was inspired to teach when he saw his son learning to read. Because of this, he wanted to teach literature and literacy. Mr. Stephan has been teaching at Design39Campus for seven years, and in total for 14 years. If he was going to teach anything besides 6th grade, he could teach fifth grade. He looks forward to April and May, which he states “is when kids use their skills.” On a homework scale of 1-10, he likes to give a 6, though he doesn’t want to overload students with homework. A piece of advice that he would like to give incoming students is that 6th grade is a year of growth and change, and you will come out as better students. His favorite thing to do off campus is to spend time with his family, hike, work out, and garden.
Mrs. Bryant is a 6th-grade STEM teacher. Her favorite part of teaching 6th grade is working with 6th-grade students. She decided to teach 6th grade because one of her teaching credentials is in mathematics and she enjoys teaching the subjects that both math and science cover in 6th grade. She especially likes 6th-grade math and the way it creates a foundation for many future disciplines in math. She always loved math classes and ended up studying math in college. She also enjoys working through problems and the challenge of tackling difficult tasks. Her advice to students coming into 6th grade is, “Students need to stay on top of their schoolwork and practice time management. They need to advocate for themselves and take agency for their learning. There is a transition in 6th grade and building positive habits will help students in their future years of school.” Mrs. Bryant’s favorite part of the school year is the trip to sixth-grade camp! She has been teaching for 8 years, and 7 of those have been at Design39Campus as a STEM teacher. Mrs. Bryant was inspired to become a LED when she was in 2nd grade. She has always loved working with kids and believes that education is a powerful way to make a difference in the world. If she had the opportunity to teach elementary school, she would consider it. While Mrs. Bryant is not in school, she teaches barre exercise and enjoys spending time with her family.
Mr. Hamlin is a 6th-grade STEM teacher. He was inspired to teach by his family, as teaching is his family business, and most of his relatives also teach. Mr. Hamlin’s favorite part of teaching middle school is the curriculum and content, as well as building relationships with students through humor and interaction. He looks forward to the start of the year, with new energy and new faces. He also looks forward to the last unit in science, where students dissect fetal pigs. His advice for students coming into 6th grade is to start managing your time and accept that you are going to struggle. He likes to give out a medium amount of homework. Mr. Hamlin has been teaching for almost 8 years. His favorite things to do outside of school are being a dad, golfing, and running.
Mrs. Rice is a 6th-grade LED. She was inspired to teach by her family members, who struggled in school and she wanted to help them out. Mrs. Rice’s favorite part of teaching 6th grade is helping the students transition from elementary to middle school. She says it is a significant change. She looks forward to winter because she likes to learn about all of the different cultures and holidays. Her advice coming into 6th grade is to know that teachers are here to help. If you don’t speak up, they won’t know if you need help. This is her ninth year teaching. She has taught elementary school, middle school, and high school, but she likes sixth graders’ personalities the most. She doesn’t give out homework, as it doesn’t apply to her job. Her favorite thing to do outside of school is to hang out with her dog and daughter.
Mrs. Brown is a middle school LED. She teaches autistic middle school students. She decided to teach middle school special education at D39 because she wanted to learn more about autism. She likes to teach and learn new things, and liked the philosophy of the school. Mrs. Brown decided to become a teacher because she enjoyed school, and was inspired by great teachers. Mrs. Brown is very passionate about teaching, and wanted to be a teacher since 3rd grade. She is now an experienced teacher, having taught for over 30 years for grades K-12. If given the opportunity, she may or may not teach elementary school, though she already has, having taught both regular and special needs elementary schools. Her favorite part of the year is the holidays, specifically Thanksgiving and Christmas. Outside of school, she enjoys watching sunsets at the beach, spending time with her family, and cooking. Her advice to incoming middle school students is “Be brave, be yourself, and include others.”
