For the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year, Bonita Vista High (BVH) reintroduces Integrated Mathematics 2 (IM2), International Baccalaureate (IB) Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations Standard Level (Math: A&I SL) and Pre-calculus teacher Angel Prado. Prado took a short leave of absence at BVH after the end of the 2022-2023 school year. This was due to his temporary contract at BVH requiring him to move to a different school in the Sweetwater Union High School District.
“There was no guarantee I would be at BVH the following year. I got a call from the district that if I wanted to keep my contract, then I would have to move to their options of schools,” Prado said. “I had to choose to move schools to ensure I had a job. I knew if I left there would always be a chance to come back, it would just be a matter of waiting.”
At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, Prado became a teacher at Montgomery High School (MOH) where he taught IM3 and one bilingual Spanish IM3 class. Prado describes how MOH was a good transition regarding the staff and students.
“My experience at MOH was very welcoming. All of the staff were really inviting and the students were also very welcoming. [Multiple] students told me, ‘I play football, you should come out to a game’ and I did,” Prado said.
With no prior announcement of Prados leave, BVH students were shocked to see him not in class when they returned from summer break. Senior Sofia Sanchez, one of Prado’s former students, describes how her and her classmates still remained in contact with Prado through email.
“I did not know he was going to be leaving until the summer when I returned back to school. I went to his classroom and there was a new teacher there. I emailed [Prado] to which he emailed me back instantaneously,” Sanchez said.
Besides former students, Prado also remained in contact with his former colleagues as well. Prado states that he regularly communicated with teachers in the math department, such as Associated Student Body advisor Christina Ada.
“I was always in contact with people here. I think they were all aware that I really wanted to come back. They knew if there was ever a chance to be back or if a position was ever open, that I would be interested in applying and being considered,” Prado said.
Prado first became aware of the new available position in Dec. 2023 due to the shortage of teachers in the math department. It was posted for anyone in SUHSD to apply and Prado decided to take advantage of the opportunity. During the interview process, Prado found out what he was going to be coming back to.
“I asked the people interviewing me what the schedule is going to look like, what am I going to teach and what am I going to take on. That is when I found out I am going to be teaching three different classes,” Prado said.
Out of the three classes Prado is currently teaching two of them he has never taught before, which includes Pre-Calculus and IB Math A&I SL. Prado’s classroom neighbor Pre-calculus and Pre-calculus Honors teacher Marissa Rivera has been in communication with Prado to assist in teaching a new course.
“For Pre-calculus, a lot of the time I have been the only teacher, so it is nice to have fresh blood that I can bounce ideas off,” Rivera said. “As well, I am an older teacher, so I am scared of technology and it is nice to have his support and [help].”
Prado expresses that coming back to BVH has been overwhelming, especially with learning all of the new classes he will be teaching. Although Prado may have been intimidated to teach his new classes, BVH students and staff show their appreciation of his return by greeting him.
“It was crazy [coming back to BVH] because I was getting used to everything new and I have never taught IB or Pre-calculus, so I am just getting into the rhythm. A bunch of kids flooded my classroom saying, ‘Hey, you’re back!’ one after another. I was trying to learn all my new kids’ names but I also did not want to ignore all my old students. It was just a crazy busy [first] week,” Prado said.
A new schedule and classroom is one of the few things Prado has to adjust to. He states he will wait until the summer to rearrange his room which was formerly Ada’s classroom. Rivera describes how Prado has had a great impression on the BVH community as he brings additional positive energy to the campus.
“I am just glad he is back. Even if he was not teaching Pre-calculus, I know the math department and a lot of the kids that he had are very excited to have him back. [Prado] has such a big positive influence everywhere,” Rivera said.
