8 Feature
www.thesmokesignal.org
Math Teacher Iulia Rusu
The Smoke Signal
Friday, September 30, 2011
A Look at Ne
By Edward Nguyen, Aleky Feature Editor, A&E Ed
I teach Algebra 2/Trigonometry and Geometry. I graduated from UCLA with a Bachelors and Masters in Electrical Engineering, specializing in Semiconductor Electronics. I have a diverse family, in which we speak three languages daily: English, Romanian, and Tamil. My class mission is for everyone to learn to enjoy the beauty and challenge of Mathematics. Many kids tend to shy away from Math if they don’t understand it at their first exposure to a concept. I would feel accomplished at MSJ if I was able to inculcate in all my students the love for knowledge, the desire to be successful in class and the work ethic necessary to achieve it. I am my daughter's full time chauffeur and have the pleasure of driving her to all her extracurricular classes. It is a privilege, an honor, and a tremendous responsibility to be a teacher and I LOVE IT! Last advice for students: always stay open to learning. It is your greatest asset, one you can't ever lose. Enjoy the mental exercise, just as you would a physical one. You will get rewarded in so many ways.
English & Yearbook Teacher Jean Dotson I have been teaching since I turned 50. Before that I was in the computer industry and busy being a mom. I love this job. Some people have accused me of being a really old teenager and they are kind of right. I like to be here for the kids who aren’t stress cases about going to higher echelon colleges, and who know how to have fun. I’m at school at least one day a weekend.While I was hanging around doing nothing in Oklahoma, I became a knitter and really miss it now that I have no life and never have time to knit. I love the subject, can talk about Romantic poets for hours. I love the kids, they are so entertaining. I can’t imagine doing something where I had to deal with grownups all the time.
Digital Imaging Teacher Lynne Ginsberg I have a background working as an art director, designer and illustrator for advertising agencies and companies in New York and San Francisco. My goal is to teach tools of Illustrator and Photoshop in my Digital Imaging 1 classes and create projects in advertising, marketing, and design that will provide opportunities to learn about professional design. I enjoy visiting art galleries and museums as well as sketching. My favorite subjects to draw are my family, friends and the beautiful natural environment of the Bay Area when I go hiking. My favorite place to photograph is New York City. I have worked with Illustrator and Photoshop for over 15 years. My experience includes traditional and digital art for television, print and online media. I enjoy teaching – sharing ideas and techniques with others. I believe everyone has an artist within them. When artists work together creatively, it is truly inspiring.
English Teacher Kevin Snyder I attended college at CSU, Chico where I majored in journalism and minored in history. Prior to entering the teaching profession, I worked for several Bay Area public relations agencies whose clientele consisted of high tech local businesses. I'm an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves and I try to watch as many of their games as humanly possible. At MSJ I hope to Secure world peace, fix the economy, develop an alternative to fossil fuels, reverse global warming, and win a Nobel Prize. And that’s only in the first half of the year! In my free time, besides the occasional game of tennis or batting cage session, I usually spend my afternoons watching Braves games and making lesson plans. Lastly, I love interacting with the students and exposing them to new ideas and concepts.