Check back from time to time to learn about the students who are now teaching in San Diego City Schools.
About Diana Sanchez at High Tech High
Diana Cornejo-Sanchez is a 9th grade Humanities Teacher at High Tech High located at Liberty Station on the grounds of the former Naval Training Center. She is a former Future Educator Scholar who attended the University of San Diego where she received her Bachelors degree in English and Spanish, as well as her credentials. She also received a Masters in Education with an emphasis in Language Literacy and Culture at USD.. She has previously taught at Serra High School and works every summer for the USD Upward Bound Program that houses Kearny High School students. Her favorite part about teaching is getting students to experience the power of the word; hearing their stories is what keeps her moving. Recently she met with two San Diego Education Fund Board members-Tina Dyer and Ann L. Hill-when they toured the High Tech Village Campus.
From Jacquilin U. Magat M.Ed.
Foreign Language Teacher (Filipino)- Bell Middle School
Foreign Language Teacher (Filipino)- Bell Middle School
When I
was six months old my aunt adopted me because my biological
parents could not afford having another child. I was raised in
the Philippines and migrated in the United States when I was 15
years old. Good education is really expensive in the Philippines
so when my grandparents petitioned my mom and I we took the
opportunity. I struggled during my high school years because I
was not fluent in English. I was made fun off a lot of times
because of my Filipino accent. The students who are new to
America did not have a place to belong and so we felt outcast.
As a result, my friends joined gangs and some became early
mothers and fathers. As for me, I took it as a challenge and
work hard to get good grades and joined various clubs and
organizations at Morse High School. During my senior year
(1998), I was the costume and props manager of Kaisahan club
(Filipino Club), and President of English Second Language and
Future Educators of America Club. My F.E.A. advisor informed me
of the scholarship and it's perfect opportunity since my
mother is a single parent and she's not able to afford my
college tuition.Receiving the scholarship was a shock to me. The scholarship was not only a great help financially but it also boosted my self-esteem and confidence. Through the help of the counseling service from SDEF I managed to finish my BA in Liberal Studies with Deaf Ed Specialization in 2002 at San Diego State University.
While I was taking my multiple subject credentials at Alliant International University I was subbing for San Diego Unified School District, National City School District, and Juvenile Court Schools.
My full time teaching career started on September 2005 at Bell Jr. High School (currently Bell Middle School). It is my 3rd year at Bell and I am currently teaching 5 classes of Filipino to 7-8 graders, and 7th grade Extended Day Math. I served as advisor for Future Educators of America club for 2 years and I am currently the advisor for International Club and Junior Kaisahan. After school I tutor past and present students who are struggling in their core classes.
In 2007, I received my MA in Education at Alliant International University. I am the first person in the family (Mother and Father side) to receive a Masters Degree. I was also part of the first group of teachers who took and passed CSET in Filipino and eventually received the Filipino Single Subject Credential.
I am currently the treasurer of Filipino-American Educators Association (FILAMEDA), an organization that focuses on professional growth of Filipino teachers and promotion of Filipino history and culture in the classrooms. I am very involved in the community and I bring my students with me. I like to give back to the society. I love my profession and my students very much.
Anthony La Rue - Ericson
Anthony LaRue is a very
special person and indicative of the success of the San Diego
Education Fund's major project-bringing more minority
teachers into San Diego classrooms through the Future Educator
Project.Anthony was an alternate scholar to the Future Educator Scholars Program and he was informed of his scholarship just in time to make it to the reception to be announced. We learned that it was his birthday and the SDEF Board has been celebrating Anthony's arrival ever since.
Anthony was driven to be a teacher. He was counseled by his teachers that he was special. His friends were looking at careers at Taco Bell. His family was unable to help him financially because they struggled just for the daily needs. Anthony bused to San Diego State University and along the way he chatted with fellow students and cajoled them into working harder. He flourished at SDSU as a student leader, mentor, advisor, and student. He counseled others on how to secure scholarships. He needed 8 scholarships and a part time job just to make it him self.
He not only graduated and secured his teaching credential but he was elected SDSU Homecoming King, which was only one of his honors. He was also asked by the prestigious Walton Family Foundation to speak to their Future Educator Scholars Program. He has also received many other awards along the way since he became a teacher eight years ago. He has taught at Fulton, Cesar Chavez, Preuss, Cherokee Point and was named Vice Principal at Ericson Elementary for the 2009-2010 academic year.
The Board of the San Diego Education Fund decided they would like a scholar representative on the Board and Anthony was the obvious choice.
He continues to encourage students to enter the teaching profession. He endorsed a scholarship candidate this year and he is proud that she has been awarded a scholarship. This student has succeeded by hard work, 16 hours of work each week, a full load of classes and volunteer tutoring and yet attained a 3.95 GPA at Madison.
This is a program about encouraging classroom diversity. But it is also all about making an impact on youth and having them "give back" That is what the Future Educator Scholars Program is about.
Milton Martin Jr., M.S.
During his senior year
at Gompers Secondary School, Milton Martin Jr. was one of the
first students selected for the Future Educator Scholars Program. Milton
enrolled at Point Loma Nazarene College and was graduated with a
B.A. in Liberal Studies -- Emphasis in Psychology and CLAD. His
first teaching position was at Chollas Elementary School where
he taught grades 5/6 for two years and grade 6 for three years.
He also taught an after school math/science program for grades
3/4. At Chollas he was USI Science Key Teacher, and member of
the School Site Governance Team and the Program Quality Review
Team.During his days at Chollas he entered the Masters Program at National University and received his M.S. degree in Educational Administration. He was asked to become a Resource Teacher/Support Provider at the Mission Beach Center/Institute Support and Development. In that program he provides instructional support for district interns, and substitute teacher training. He has also received his Peer Coach certification.
After leaving the Intern Office in Fall 2002. He taught 4th grade at Baker Elementary and then in November 2002 was appointed Vice Principal at Valencia Park Elementary in the Skyline community where he served for three years. He was transferred to Horace Mann Middle School and named Complex Vice Principal followed by an assignment in 2006 as Vice Principal at Boone Elementaryand served as Vice Principal at A.L.B.A.-Alternative Learning for Behavior & Attitude.He began the 2009-2010 academic year as Principal at Oak Park.
Milton has always volunteered extensively in the community. He is Community Advisor to the principal at Lincoln High School and in 2006 he founded a new church in the community of Oak Park called the Door of Hope Christian Church which provides encouragement and hope to the community and offers free tutoring and academic support to students in grades 2-12.
Milton is an outstanding example of the many students who have been offered assistance by the Future Educator Scholars Program.