New teacher Josh Blakeley arrived at Bonita Vista High (BVH), to teach math. Blakeley ,who came from Brisbane, Australia, is already making an impact in the classroom. Students say his step-by-step teaching style and focus on confidence have helped many students feel more comfortable with math. His approach centers on support, patience, and real-life learning. For many students, adjusting to a new teacher can be challenging, especially in a subject like math. Serenity Becerra, a junior in Blakeley’s class, said learning new material while getting used to a new teaching style took time.

“The most challenging part [of math] is remembering all the equations and [knowing]  how to solve them differently,” Becerra said.

Becerra shared that when she does not understand something, the co-teacher in the classroom often helps her. She also said Blakeley’s teaching style makes learning easier because he explains each step clearly and gives students time to practice on their own.

“He explains it, writes the steps down and then has us do it ourselves to make sure we understand,” Becerra said.

Another student, junior Saya Terchi, also spoke about her experience with Blakeley as her new teacher. She said having both Blakeley and the co-teacher available makes a big difference in her learning. According to Terchi, she has seen major improvement in her math skills since the beginning of the school year.

“I definitely got a lot better at math,” Terchi said. “[I had trouble] understanding some topics [within his class], but most of the time I understand it.” 

Terchi explained that while some lessons can still be confusing, she feels comfortable asking questions in class.

“I will raise my hand whenever I need help and Mr. Blakeley will come over and will take me step by step through the problem,” Terchi said.

Blakeley explains his focus on breaking problems down comes from his own experiences in school. Josh Blakeley completed his teacher training at Queensland University of Technology before moving to the United States. He said several teachers influenced his decision to become an educator.

“It was a combination of multiple teachers I had growing up,” Blakeley said. “I had an eighth-grade science teacher and high school math and physics teachers who really stood out to me.”

As a new teacher at Bonita Vista High School, Blakeley said he was drawn to the school because of its community and values. After meeting administrators and the math team, he felt the school was the right fit.

“I really liked the vision of the school and the people here,” Blakeley said. “I liked the administration, the math team and the IB program. It is a great school with great people.”

One of Blakeley’s favorite subjects to teach is financial math, including compound interest. He believes this topic is especially important because students will use it throughout their lives.

“It is the most life-applicable math,” Blakeley said. “Everyone deals with money and interest at some point, so students must understand it.”

Blakeley also shared that confidence plays a major role in math success. He said many students struggle not because they cannot do the work, but because they believe they cannot.

“Confidence is a huge factor in math,” Blakeley said. “If students get a small win early on, it helps them believe they can do it.”

By focusing on small steps, clear explanations and guided practice, Blakeley aims to create a classroom where students feel supported rather than overwhelmed. Students say this approach helps them feel less stressed and more willing to try. For Blakeley, teaching is not just about solving equations, but about helping students believe in themselves. As a new member of the BVH community, he continues to shape his classroom into a place where students feel safe to ask questions, make mistakes and grow.

“Confidence is very important. I break problems into small steps so students can get a win and feel confident that they can do it.” Blakeley said.