Grace Flores: 'I get to see inside how the teachers are'

 

 

Central Coast High School Junior Grace Flores is experiencing something she never thought she would be a part of during her time in high school. She says, “I am so glad that I am," when talking about helping to teach in an elementary classroom through the careers in education course she is taking at school.

 

This opportunity is particularly special because Grace is working alongside her former grade school teacher Mrs. Kelly Starnes at the Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula in Seaside.

 

 

“We come to campus and the kids are super sweet. It’s nice to have an escape (from school)," Grace says.

Grace also credits her careers in education teacher, Mrs. Joanna Guzman, who she says is “wonderful.”

 

Grace gets to do it all from playing with students on the playground to helping 1st graders and bonding with 6th and 8th graders. This semester she has enjoyed working in the classrooms and working one-on-one with students and helping the teachers out. She was recently assigned to 6th grade and she says it brings back memories and it’s like deja vu because she remembers the things she did in Mrs. Starnes class.

 

“I love kids so it’s just special to me to have the opportunity to work with them,” says Grace. “I have other jobs too and I am super busy but it’s nice to have this to come to and build a bond with them (students).”

 

Grace is not only learning how to build relationships with students, but she is also learning what it’s like to properly work with students.

 

“I get to see inside how the teachers are,” she states. “I basically feel like I am one of the teachers and get to help and experience it differently from when I was a student. It’s a very cool experience (for) being as young as I am.”

 

While teaching may not necessarily be the path Grace is working toward, she says this is something she is thinking about (thanks to the careers in education program).

 

“What brings me the most joy is when I walk into the classroom and the students all say ‘hi Ms. Grace’ and that just brings so much joy that they were excited to see me and looking forward to me coming. It just makes me really happy," she said.

 

When asked about Central Coast High School, Grace says she really enjoys it and one of the main reasons is because teachers take the time to sit there and work out the problems you’re going through.

 

“I never understood math until Mr. Finnegan sat down and explained it to me. I always had bad thoughts about Central Coast and it's nothing the way it seems. It‘s a great opportunity," Grace said.

 

When Grace is not busy with school work or learning in the careers in education course, she can be found holding down three jobs, including one as a supervisor where she credits gaining so much responsibility and serving as a role model. She also serves as the student representative for Central Coast High School at MPUSD Board of Education meetings, to provide trustees with updates from campus.