By Juliana Hoft
Staff Writer
She has only been at Mira Costa for one semester, but English and Student Academic Support teacher Stacy Cabrera has left her mark on her students so far. Although her stay has been short, her innovative and proactive style of teaching has made her a memorable teacher.
Cabrera became a long-term substitute when junior English teacher Brady Everett left on maternity leave. She took over five of Everett’s six classes, consisting of one junior honors English class, two junior CP English classes and one SAS class, before the beginning of the second semester. Before taking this job, Cabrera was part of the Mira Costa English Department as an essay grader.
“I love Mrs. Cabrera’s way of letting us explore our own ideas,” junior Abha Nath said. “The way she teaches is super interactive, stimulating and engaging. Her teaching methods and the learning environment she creates motivate and drive me every day to learn new things. I really wish I had had her as a teacher for a longer period of time.”
Cabrera grew up in Downey, California, and went to Warren High School. During her senior year, she realized that she wanted to be an English teacher after her Advanced Placement English teacher inspired her to think more critically and outside of the box.
“I really want to help my students to think above and beyond the standard way of thinking and answering,” Cabrera said. “I hope that this year and every other year I teach, my students will leave my classroom with some kind of responsibility for their own thinking, while at the same time knowing there is something different out there for every aspect of learning.”
Cabrera continued on to get her college degree at California Baptist University and graduated with a Bachelor’s Associate degree in English and a minor in philosophy. She is currently enrolled in her second year at Loyola Marymount University in a pursuit of a Master’s degree in philosophy.
“There have been times in the process of finding a job that have gotten me down,” Cabrera said. “Sometimes I think that I should try something else, but every time I go looking for another job, I realize there is absolutely nothing else I would rather do. I love teaching because I get to work, talk and learn new things from people and peers.”
After graduating from California Baptist University in 2007, Cabrera went on to be a substitute teacher for all grade levels in the Downey school system. She also became an English teacher for 10th and 12th graders for one year. However, according to Cabrera, Mira Costa is an ideal school to teach at due to its academic successes.
“I have always liked the reputation that Costa has since I was in high school,” Cabrera said. “I have always liked the amount of free thinking and emphasis on literature Mira Costa’s curriculum has, which I think is a cause of the success for this school; it’s emphasis on learning first and testing second.”
Cabrera prides herself on the intellectual freedom that she was given by her senior AP English teacher. She utilizes techniques she has learned from her previous experience, such as detailed power point presentations and analytical discussions. According to students, Cabrera’s comittment to her students is clear.
“It is very obvious that Mrs. Cabrera loves and is dedicated to teaching,” junior Katie Keegan said. “She really helps us think in new and creative ways. I look forward to my second period class every day because it is just really fun and exciting.”
Cabrera feels that she has grown more at Mira Costa as an individual as well as a teacher than at any other school she has taught at. Even though she doesn’t know if she will return to Costa next year as an English teacher, she plans on continuing to pursue her passion for teaching nonetheless.
“I would love to continue to be at Costa as a teacher next year, but if not, I will still go on to teach so I can continue to make the youth of tomorrow better,” Cabrera said. “This job has solidified for me that this profession is truly where I am supposed to be.”
Leave a Reply