At the start of the 2023-2024 school year many Bonita Vista High (BVH) students enrolled in the Career Technical Education (CTE) Civil Engineering and Architecture class were left with no teacher after the retirement of the previous teacher, Moses Muturi. This resulted in CTE Civil Engineering and Architecture teacher Beatriz Velosa filling in the spot for BVH students, sacrificing her title of Introduction to Design teacher at Bonita Vista Middle (BVM).
“There was a need for a new CTE teacher here [at BVH] for the engineering [class], the [previous] teacher that was here before retired. So they were looking for new teachers. The position was [then] offered to me and I thought it would be a good change. I am always up for changes,” Velosa said.
As Velosa opened up to new changes and a new environment, she explains her previous experience in architecture and how that factored into her decision. Moreover, expressing her thoughts on taking over a course at BVH.
“I was happy to be able to come back and teach the engineering class for the high school, especially because the previous teacher was teaching the civil engineering-architecture class and that was one of the ones that I had been wanting to teach for a while because I have a degree in architecture,” Velosa said.
Shifting from a middle school to high school environment, Velosa notes how she had to adapt to the maturity gap between the two grades. This gap made it difficult to get across to students and she describes high schoolers as more self-reliant and a large difference from middle schoolers.
“I noticed here at the high school that [high schoolers] are more mature. Students are more independent, more responsible, and here to do the work,” Velosa said. “I remember the first weeks I would ask the students, ‘does anyone need help?’ And they were like ‘no we’re fine, we got this. To me, that was a big change because I was used to going around helping students at the middle school.”
Along with adjustments that Velosa encountered, new challenges arose as she returned to teaching high school students after her seven years of teaching middle schoolers. Throughout the first semester, Velosa attempted to bond with students but found she had to shift from her traditional methods of engaging with students..
“One of my favorite parts of class is simply Velosa, she is a great teacher. Coming from the middle school, it has been a little bit difficult for her. It is new for her, teaching high school, but she is an awesome teacher,” senior Aiden Koenig-Russell said.
Koenig-Russell is a student of Velosa’s engineering class, who appreciates not only the subject that is taught to him, but also Velosa’s ability to adapt from teaching middle schoolers to teaching high schoolers. With the two to four year difference among her students, their level of maturity led Velosa to become more knowledgeable on ways that she teaches high schoolers.
“One of the most significant things is Velosa’s drive to actually teach her students. No matter how much, whether one or two students in class act up, she always has a passion to try and help everyone,” Koenig-Russell said.
Furthermore, students like junior Tiesa Harger recognize Velosa’s passion in the subject and the strong encouragement she expresses upon her students. Harger further explains what the class entails and her experience with the course this year.
“This semester we have mostly [focused on] units regarding how to structure buildings,” Harger said. “Velosa is really good at teaching this subject, and I like how she always comes to me to help with my questions I need answered.”
From design projects to group presentations Velosa hopes to offer students a variety of experiences and support. Moreover, she reflects on her experience at BVH and her first semester teaching the civil engineering and architecture class.
“I’ve been having a great time here at the high school. I’ve been very happy to see the students I taught before at the middle school as seniors now,” Velosa said. “It’s been nice having that change and having support from the BVH staff. I’ve had a nice experience with the changes that I made this year.
