Teacher Stories

Mrs. Guske teaches 4AP Literature, AP Research, English 2CP, and English 2 Honors. She went to Moorpark High School during her own high school years and graduated in 2009. She met her husband, Mr. Guske, during her college program. Initially, the two did not like each other, but as they were forced to work together they grew fonder of each other. 

Q: What made you want to be a teacher in the beginning? 

Guske: I’ve actually always wanted to be a teacher. I have two aunts that are teachers, one History, one English, and my family friends are teachers. And I don't know what drew me to it, but I used to set up my stuffed animals and I used to teach them what I learned in class, starting in kindergarten. I have always wanted to be a teacher. I'm one of those rarities. um. 

Q: Did you ever consider any other careers?

Guske: The only other career that I thought about was being a vet, but then I realized it's not all playing with puppies and kitties. 

Q: What was the process of becoming a teacher like for you, and what did you have to go through to get there?

Guske: I actually did a unique program in my university. I went to Cal State Stanislaus. It's in the middle of nowhere in this city called Turlock. I was an English major, but I was also part of what is known as the Single Subject Matter Preparation Program, or SSMP. It was for teachers who wanted to teach English. I looked for universities that had good teaching programs, and I knew I didn’t want to be anywhere near Moorpark for my college experience. My brother actually found the university for me… but I realized that the central valley was not for me.. so I moved back home and I got into Cal Lutheran and I did their credential program which is a three semester program.

Q: Would you recommend going to college away from your hometown?

Guske: Definitely, if it's affordable. I recommend state schools because they're much more affordable than anything else. Especially if you know what you want to do, and you can afford it, then I would highly recommend getting out of your hometown. Although I did come back because I love Moorpark, my other friends moved on.

Q: What did it feel like coming back to your former high school as a teacher rather than a student?

Guske: I felt like a little kid at a party for big kids. When I started teaching, probably about a third of the staff at the time were people who I had previously had as teachers, or were teaching when I was in high school. 

Q: Did you always know that you wanted to be an English teacher specifically? 

Guske: No, I actually wanted to be a math teacher. and I know. I was amazing at math. I was in advanced math and honor's math all throughout middle school and elementary school. However, when I got to high school, I had a not so great geometry teacher, and I struggled after that… I went from being an amazing math student and getting all A’s in math to needing a tutor. 

Q: What do you think was the hardest part about your experience of becoming a teacher? 

Guske: During the last semester of my program we had to do something called a month-long takeover, which means that we take over a class and teach everything. We would have to teach a whole unit and the actual teacher in the classroom would have to observe us and take notes on how we were doing. However, a month into my student teaching, my master teacher became the assistant principal, and I took over all of her classes from February to June, and it was kind of like a sink or swim situation, but it was the best experience ever. However, that was the year of the UCSB school shooting, so I think the hardest part of the year was learning, as a teacher and also just as a person, how to balance grief within a classroom environment. For example, how much should we talk about it? What do we do? I was 22 at the time.

Q: What do you think for you is the most enjoyable part about being a teacher? 

Guske: Definitely getting to know the students, walking around and talking to them, seeing them actually learn something and be able to have conversations about it. I just love the individuality of the students and just getting to know them.

Q: What do you think in the very beginning drew you to becoming a teacher? 

Guske: Probably because at such a young age all you know is school. It’s the most constant thing in your life. I think that maybe I just enjoyed being around it and the environment of it.

Q: What are some hobbies or things you enjoy doing outside of work? 

Guske: Well, I've always been an avid reader. I used to stay up late with a flashlight under my covers and read, so my mom used to have to take my books away. I love to write and I love hanging out with my dogs and hanging out with Mr. Guske. Recently I started hiking again and I'm very crafty.