THE BAIS EDITION

What do you teach?

• EDSP 150 (Communication, Leadership, and Social Justice)

• EDEL 102 (Psychological Foundations of Education)

What do you enjoy about teaching?

I love that I get to interact with students that come from all walks of life and experiences.  Specifically, in the BAIS program, many students are non-traditional, and working full-time.  Therefore, the conversations and projects that come through showcase potential graduate-level work.

How would you describe your teaching style?

I'm a firm believer of project-based learning.  Adults need content that they can apply to their real worlds.  Use it or loose it.

What is the most challenging part about teaching? What is the most rewarding part?

I always take on several classes at various institutions, so the grading can sometimes be very challenging in giving prompt feedback.  The most rewarding part, is seeing students go through my classes and truly gain confidence in ways they did not have before. 

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone trying to follow in your footsteps?

Be patient, and go after any and every opportunity the comes through.  You never know where it might take you and where you might end up.

What was your career journey? What experiences do you have outside of teaching?

When I was in preschool, I always pretended to play as a teacher.  I feel I never stopped.  I always wanted to teach.  I went for my multiple subject teaching credential with the hopes of becoming a 3rd grade teacher.  Then for my student-teaching experience, I was placed in Kindergarten, and wanted to be far away from the youngins.  So my second semester of student-teaching I worked in a middle school 6th math and science class.  It was a blast! I understood the kids, they got my humor, and I could be "me."  

When I graduated with my teaching credential, I had applied to teach 6/7th middle school Language Arts.  I did that for about 5 years.  Throughout my time as a teacher, I continued my passion of coaching volleyball (Boys/Girls, JV/Varsity, middle school teams, starting my own club volleyball team).  I also picked up additional duties such as Yearbook director, teaching Kindergarten PE and more.  

My passion of volleyball continued and I was asked to coach along side my head women's volleyball coach at De Anza College who I played for when I was in college.  I couldn't pass up that opportunity.  As teaching and coaching were big passions of mine, I began teaching Child Development & Education classes, and coaching volleyball at my alma mater with my former head coach.  Throughout that time, with the support of my family, I went for my doctorate in educational leadership and management.  After pursuing my doctorate, doors opened.  I taught my alma mater at Notre Dame de Namur University and became responsible for student-teacher placements in the Single Subject Credential Program.  I also became a university supervisor, where I got to observe and mentor new single subject credential candidates in the program.

Overtime, additional opportunities opened up, and I ended up in the ChAD department at SJSU.  Later, I began teaching in the Teacher Education Department, and now in the BAIS program.  This has brought me full circle.  I have had students at De Anza College transfer to SJSU into our BAIS program, and then go into our teaching credential program at SJSU.  It's been an absolute blast and privilege watching my students grow!

What do you teach?

• ChAD 100W (Writing Workshop)

• ChAD 102 (Development of Self in a Culturally Diverse Society)

• EDLD 120 (The Right to Learn: Language, Dignity, and Education)

What do you enjoy about teaching?

I like knowing that I'm helping students think in new ways and communicate more powerfully, and knowing that my students will pass on those tools, so that we can all have a part in healing the world in some way.

How would you describe your teaching style?

I try to help my students see the connections between social science research and their own lives and issues that are important to them.  I enjoy showing students how to read research, and how to get interested in and encouraged by the many ways in which researchers chip away at issues in the world.  I am always looking for ways to break down complex tasks into simpler steps, so that the task of writing a research paper is not intimidating.  I am understanding of the fact that we all have busy and complex lives, so I am compassionate with my students' individual life situations.  There is no one-size-fits-all approach to teaching, and I am always willing to work out custom plans with my students to help ensure they succeed in my classes.

What was your career journey? What experiences do you have outside of teaching?

I have a BA from Stanford and an MA from NYU in Anthropology, and I worked as a researcher and curator of California history exhibits at the Oakland Museum of California for a few years before pursuing my PhD in Education at Stanford, focusing on social science education.  My main interests are how people learn in museums, and how people empathize with people they perceive to be different from themselves.  I have also worked as the Head of Education at the Hearst Museum of Anthropology at UC Berkeley.  The common thread through all my experiences is that I want to increase understanding of how people teach and learn in many environments, and to find creative ways to share research and stories about people around the world.

What is the most challenging part about teaching? What is the most rewarding part?

The most challenging part about teaching is finding just the right amount of information, guidance, and feedback to give students.  If you give too little, students may feel lost and confused.  If you give too much, students may feel overwhelmed.  I'm always trying to find the "sweet spot" in between too little and too much.  The most rewarding part is when students tell me that something I taught them changed their lives—for instance, I often have students tell me that they were scared of writing or had very little confidence in writing, but that I helped them to feel empowered and confident.  I've also had students tell me that they had never given much thought to topics like culture, gender, and language, but that I helped them think in new ways about those topics.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone trying to follow in your footsteps?

To keep reading, reading, reading and writing, writing, writing.  The more we do both, the better we get at both, and the more we can stay on top of the most critical issues in the world today—and of course, there are many.  Try to identify a problem or a set of problems in the world that you want to become an expert on, and educate yourself.  You don't need to study it in school to develop expertise—even listening to podcasts can teach you a great deal.  Then, look for ways to take action—to speak up, to stand up, to apply your knowledge to your work environment, and to spread the word wherever you can!

Sandra Ukili - Summer 2023 Graduate

What was one memory from your experience in BAIS that stands out to you?

Building lifelong bonds and camaraderie with my classmates regardless of the fully remote program.

What BAIS class do you see really helping you today?

Considering our current political climate and world affairs, EDLD 150 and 140 have been crucial in helping us understand our national and world politics and how we can impact change around us.

What are you up to today? What’s your next goal?

Most recently, I worked with the International Institute of New England in the Unaccompanied Children's Program. However, due to federal funding cuts and reductions in immigration services, our unit was dismantled. My goal is to connect with a nonprofit organization that supports immigrants, continue advocating for social justice, and speak out against the civil rights violations occurring under our current administration.

Darling Nunez Lazo

What led you to BAIS to continue your education?

I chose the BAIS program because it aligns perfectly with my career goals and passion for impacting my community. I have been deeply interested in helping others and addressing social issues from an early age. This led me to explore careers in education, social work, public service, and nonprofit work. I wanted a degree that would provide me with a broad yet structured education, allowing me to develop critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills across multiple disciplines.

Beyond academics, my personal experiences have also influenced my decision. Having witnessed challenges in my community, I want to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to advocate for change and support needy individuals. This program will help me gain a deeper understanding of social issues and provide me with the tools to create positive and lasting change.

What was your journey here?

My journey as a Latina born in Nicaragua has dramatically influenced my path. Moving to a new country came with challenges, but it also shaped my resilience, adaptability, and strong sense of community.