Teacher of the Month ⼁ Introducing Debbie G.
At Pacific Preparatory, we are so lucky to work with the most thoughtful and inspiring instructors, all who bring lessons to life with engaging connections to student interests and their community. This month, we are pleased to celebrate Debbie, an encouraging mentor, English teacher, and book club leader whose students produce some of the most polished writing pieces our school has ever seen. Learn more about what makes Debbie inspiring!
Debbie (she/her/hers) graduated with high honors from Pepperdine University with a B.A. in English and minors in speech communication, writing, and French. While attending Pepperdine, she served for a year as editor of the university’s literary magazine. Debbie went on to earn a Clear Single Subject Teaching Credential in English from California State University, Northridge. Debbie also holds a Cross Cultural, Language and Academic Development Certificate. Additionally, she has taken numerous workshops in teaching Gifted and Talented Learners. Debbie has over 16 years of experience teaching English/Language Arts in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Finding a strong balance between academic rigor and engagement, Debbie uniquely engages each of her students within Common Core State Standards - often supporting them in exceeding their grade level goals. With Pacific Preparatory, Debbie teaches English for grades 5-12 and leads our after school book club. She is a passionate sports fan and loves using her interests to connect with her students. When Debbie isn't teaching, she can be found singing, performing, and playing the piano.
What’s your favorite subject to teach and why?
English is my favorite subject to teach, particularly literature and writing. History, culture, ideas, emotions, significant life experiences, and treasures of the imagination are all memorialized in the written word. As Emily Dickinson wrote, “There is no frigate like a book / To take us lands away . . . .” I love to share the world’s wealth of literature with my students and encourage them to join in the literary conversation through their own writing.
What do you enjoy most about teaching with Pacific Preparatory?
I absolutely love teaching with Pacific Preparatory! I really enjoy getting to know my students, who are all so unique and special. My students have really blossomed in this one-on-one setting. I have also had fun facilitating two of Pacific Preparatory’s book clubs.
Can you share a PacPrep student success story?
I am especially proud of two of my students, Arthur and Carolina, whose letters to Poet Laureates Kari Gunter-Seymour and Marcus Amaker, respectively, were selected from thousands of students’ letters to be conveyed to the poets and published on the Academy of American Poets’ website, poets.org. This was in connection with the “Dear Poet Project 2022,” which takes place in April, in honor of National Poetry Month.
Can you share a unique lesson/assignment you worked on with a student?
I am proud to share a few slides from Maddy Molina’s in-depth, creative, and professional character analysis slide presentation. Maddy, a rising ninth grader, painted the imaginative portrait of the character, which is featured in the second slide!
Artwork by Maddy Molina
Debbie, we and your students are so lucky to have you on our team! Congratulations on being our Teacher of the Month!