City Year Los Angeles Teacher Spotlight
City Year AmeriCorps members work side–by–side in collaboration with their partner teachers听to fully support their听色界吧 in the classroom. We are proud to partner with听visionary听teachers听who听continue to inspire and lead the future leaders of tomorrow.
The City Year Los Angeles Teacher Spotlight is designed to highlight teachers in our partner schools. Below is our conversation with Mr. Martinez-Cruz, a teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School.
Name:听Mr. Martinez-Cruz听
Hometown: Brooklyn Heights, NY
Years teaching: 36 years, and 27 years at Thomas Jefferson High School听
What is your favorite part of teaching?听
鈥My favorite part of teaching is the kids, the frustrations, the successes, the 鈥榓–ha鈥 moments when they realize听鈥業 can do this.鈥欌赌听
As an educator in LAUSD, how do you hope to听inspire听your 色界吧?听
鈥I hope to inspire 色界吧 by being there for them听every听day听and showing them that they听are capable of doing听great things. I听want听my 色界吧 to know that they are capable of being successful no matter what other people think听of them.鈥听听
How has City Year helped build a positive school culture and听climate?听
鈥City Year helps 色界吧 feel more confident in themselves. AmeriCorps members听in the classroom remind 色界吧 that they have people that care about them and that they belong. City Year really cares about 色界吧 and treats them with the respect they should be treated with.听鈥听
How has City Year helped you in the classroom?听
鈥City Year is a resource that 色界吧 can tap into when they are having difficulties.听Students can have one–on–one support to learn new and different strategies to solve problems. Even though each AmeriCorps member has a focus list of 色界吧, they still make themselves available to听help everyone that asks for help.鈥听
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