New English teacher starts a fresh chapter at BVH

Bonita Vista High School (BVH)’s newest teacher Elizabeth Tran began teaching 9th grade English at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. She has spent over a decade teaching in the San Diego Unified School District until she switched to Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD). As a recent arrival from Southwest Middle, her adjustment to Bonita Vista High,  was a similar yet positively refreshing experience, she describes. 

“I loved the diverse student body and I felt like everybody was very helpful. People came by my classroom [asking] me if I needed anything. [They] came in and gave me a ‘welcome to BVH’ sign with a free t-shirt from ASB. It was just very warm and touching,” Tran said.

Tran’s students likewise feel her welcoming spirit, as she brings her years of experience in working with students to BVH classrooms.

“I think she’s really nice,” freshman Alicia Rubios said. “She’s more chill and understanding [with us].”

Kalie Espinoza, 10th grade teacher and head of BVH’s English Department, previously worked with Tran in other schools. Having previously interviewed her, Espinoza believes Tran is an excellent addition to BVH’s English classes.

“She wants to get involved with support groups, which is what I run on campus. And so I can tell she really cares about what she’s doing and why she’s here,” Espinoza said. 

One of Tran’s ambitions as a new teacher has been the creation of an exclusive classroom library for her students. Tran states that her goal in doing this is to promote reading, which she believes will enable her students to be successful and make an impact on society.

“I truly believe that reading is a ticket to knowledge and power,” Tran said, “So I thought if I could create a space that felt like a home, it would give them the comfort and the space to [want to explore] books.”

So far, Tran’s shelves are stocked with novels of the Fantasy and Young Adult genres, primarily as an encouragement for her students to read.

For some students, assigned readings often tend to be dull. Espinoza believes Tran’s library can be an enjoyable experience for students, many of whom could make reading a personal hobby. 

“I think having a classroom library where students can come in and pull books from, [is] another resource for students to be able to read more. I think it encourages, especially in the ninth grade, [for] students to read books that they enjoy, and not just what they’re assigned at school. That being one of her main goals this first year is fantastic,” Espinoza said.

Some students, particularly freshmen, tend to struggle in their English classes, which often demand critical reading skills. 

“I feel like [this new library] can help more kids that struggle a lot,” Rubios said.

Tran’s passion for teaching comes from the growth of her students, most of which are just entering their freshman year of high school.

“I want to change the minds and hearts of students,” Tran said, “because the students are going to inherit the world. I teach mostly ninth grade, and they can definitely feel overwhelmed, but I feel like this is an age where we can really contribute to the way they think. I always tell students that it’s not my job to tell you what to think. It’s my job to give you the tools to make up your mind.”

For now, Tran’s goal as a teacher is to first become comfortable with her students. Settling into high school is often a difficult and intimidating task for them.

“I want to create a space where students feel comfortable talking to me,” Tran said. “If they’re struggling with not just academics, but whatever it is they’re going through, my door is always open.” 

Besides building bonds with students, Tran notes that her students are academically strong. Just in the first quarter of the year, many of her students have demonstrated significant improvement in their grades.

“I have a lot of really amazing students.” Tran said. “[They] really rise to the occasion to try to overcome [their] struggles and to me, that’s really really admirable.”

Ultimately, Tran is hopeful for her freshman students, who she believes can use the critical thinking skills they acquire for change beyond the classroom.

“I want [students] to question everything,” Tran said. “To look at a law and say, ‘is this a good law?’ and if it isn’t, then do something to change it. That’s really why I’m in this profession. I want to change the minds of students who will one day change them.”