My name is Sergio Almazan and I a native of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles. I have been in a school setting for the last 9 years. I am an alumnus of Salesian High School 02’ and taught Freshmen and Junior Theology, Sociology and Psychology in the past along with being the 9^th, 10^th and 11th grade Guidance Counselor. Currently I am the Dean of Students, Junior Theology III Teacher and Guidance Counselor for 10th and 11th grade. In the past I was actively involved in coaching the Varsity football and basketball teams at Santa Isabel School and volunteered as a JV football and Frosh/Soph and JV assistant coach for basketball at Bishop Mora Salesian High School. This is where he began to experience the connection between coaching and teaching. This past year I helped coach the Frosh/Soph and JV basketball teams. Following my undergraduate career, I discovered my passion for teaching by gaining work experience at Nuevo Amanecer Latino Children’s Services, a non-profit Foster Family Agency, as a Quality Improvement Assistant.

During my time with Nuevo, I realized I wanted to do more for the youth and moved forward in pursuing a teaching career. I then went on to work as a paraprofessional at Sunrise Elementary School, a LAUSD school, and transitioned in the fall of 2011 to Our Lady Help of Christians as the 6^th/7^th grade teacher and then the following year to Santa Isabel School where I taught 4th grade and became the Athletic Director. In my free time, I enjoy coaching and remain active by playing sports, weight lifting and hiking. I believe that every child deserves a quality education, in order to be prepared for their future endeavors. My mission is to make a positive impact in the lives of the youth of today, while incorporating Catholic values that will impact the students in their future lives. My personal philosophy of education includes providing students with activities and social transmission through differential instruction to ensure that students’ learning needs are met. As our society continues to evolve, it is important that as educators our methods and modes of teaching continue to evolve as well.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs

“Failure is simply an opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford