Our class has evolved over the past decade—growing from a small elective to a social hub and thriving creative community.
M281
At the start of 2023, we floated between a classroom and trailer.
305
Eventually everything was moved into more central location: classroom 305 in a 75-year-old wing of East Meck.
We moved to M281 in 2022.
The upgraded counter.
Photography
Podcasting
Learning things on the side, like green screening, tested our resourcefulness using whatever materials we had on hand.
The class vibe shifted with the seasons, bringing a touch of unpredictability that sparked curiosity and helped break the monotony of daily school routines.
Students crowd the "bar" or "counter" during a discussion. It served as an informal social hub for students, helping us reconnect after a long hiatus.
After virtual classes ended, we continued producing a live "show" as a creative way to develop new skills and bring fresh ideas to the school community.
To preserve the virtual theatrics my class was known for, I utilized the available tools to their fullest.
This setup combined personal and school computers, a mix of new and outdated technologies, and a unique integration of various software programs.
In early spring of 2021, we began organizing our rooms as we returned to school for the first time in nearly a year.
Careful planning was required to maintain social distancing while creating an experience that accommodated both in-person and online students simultaneously.
While teaching math, the original photojournalism class launched as a one-semester elective conducted online. Later that spring, a small group of students returned to complete a hybrid version of the course.
Day one of virtual learning kicks off in August 2020 after extensive preparation. Navigating this online arena was an enlightening experience.
Instructions are displayed for students to take their first math unit test virtually. The test was administered from a beach.
My modular desk setup provided flexibility for quick adjustments, allowing my computer to adapt to new ideas and challenges—just like my classroom always did.
A math class settles in for 1st block early in the morning.
On March 13, 2020, schools shut down indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving students and teachers facing an uncertain future.
My first classroom was in a trailer tucked away in the far northeast corner of campus, next to the football and baseball stadiums.
While learning the ropes of teaching, I experimented with different classroom atmospheres, lighting setups, and ways to encourage student interaction.
I joined East Meck in late 2015 as an immigrant tutor, supporting students in math classes to help bridge the gap between language and mathematics.