Welcome ¡Bienvenidos! 欢迎

College/University:
Stanford University

Major:
Political Science

Plans for after graduation:
Public office

How did Avenues prepare you for college?
Avenues taught me to always be open-minded and flexible in whatever I did. This is something that has helped me a lot so far this year as a college freshman.

What is the most valuable skill you developed at Avenues?
Definitely my discussion skills! By being encouraged to voice my opinions in my classes, I learned how to synthesize and express my thoughts in an effective way.

What did you enjoy most about being part of the Avenues community?
The unconditional support from faculty, staff, and peers who wanted to see me succeed in anything that I pursued.

Favorite thing about Avenues
The wide array of opportunities that extend outside of the classroom, such as the Mastery program, Global Journeys trips, 5th Term, and club experiences.

Hometown
Taiwan

Degrees and schooling
Master's degree, Childhood Education with Bilingual Extension, Hunter College
NYS Childhood Education 1-6 grades, with Bilingual Extension
Teachers College of Columbia University, TCSOL Certification Program
Durham University, Master's Degree, TESOL

Division you teach
Middle Grades

Years of teaching experience and number of years at Avenues
16 years teaching; 11 years at Avenues

Describe your teaching philosophy
Knowledge is power, and it helps one to build up one’s capabilities, and hopefully, one can make a positive influence on our world. I love an anonymous quote that says, “this world doesn't need more successful people, but instead, we need more good people.” The question then becomes "what to teach?" I always tell my students that “middle grades is not all about academics, it is important that you are learning to understand more about yourself, identify and discover your own strengths and areas of growth. Start from there, let's learn and explore.”

Why did you choose to come to Avenues?
I agree with the school’s mission to prepare students to be global citizens. I also like how many opportunities we have as a teachers; there is so much professional development. I enjoy learning and working at an innovative school.

What do you enjoy most about being part of the Avenues community?
I love my co-workers, everyone here is so talented and willing to work as a team.

How would you describe Avenues students?
Enjoy learning, curious learners, and are not shy to express themselves.

What's different about Avenues’ curriculum?
Project-based learning.

How do you challenge and support your students?
Knowing where they are and pushing them to the next level of success. Setting goals with students.

Describe Avenues in three words
Innovative, challenging, inspiring.

College/University
Yale University

Neighborhood
Downtown Manhattan

Previous school
San José, Argentina

Grade started at Avenues
9

Language track
Spanish

Academic interests
English, language arts.

Extracurricular involvements
Basketball, Lacrosse, Volleyball, Black Student Union, Latinx Student Union, WOCA (Women of Color Association), Service Learning Club, DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Club, Model UN.

Favorite thing about Avenues
My favorite thing about Avenues is the faculty, and more specifically their willingness to support all of our needs. Whether it be through the daily office hours that all of the teachers provide or the ease in which we are able to reach out to any of the faculty when we're in doubt; I've never encountered such a high level of availability from the faculty, and regard for my personal improvement.

Three words you’d use to describe Avenues:
Welcoming, supportive, advanced.