By Shannon Perez
Staff Writer
For most students graduating, high school is their chance to look to the future and forget their time spent in the classroom.
Costa alumna Jessica Wiseman, who graduated in 2008, found herself back on campus in a new teaching role.
“I feel like in a lot of ways, things really lined up for me, and it feels right being back,” Wiseman said. “I’m behind the scenes now, and I see so much of how the school works. Teaching is very different from being a student.”
Wiseman attended Bard College to attain her Bachelor’s Degree and Columbia University for graduate school. She taught for five years at the Young Woman’s Leadership School of East Harlem in New York.
“Jessica was clearly the best candidate and a great addition to the Mira Costa faculty,” Principal Dr. Ben Dale said.
One of Wiseman’s major goals is to not only educate students academically, but to teach and empower them to find confidence in who they are as their own person.
“The biggest lesson, maybe the theme of my life, has been that you don’t have to be like anyone else,” Wiseman said. “You have to do your own thing. And above all, I value authenticity and honesty.”
While at Costa, Wiseman played the violin at Carnegie Hall and was also a part of the literary magazine Reflections, with current English teacher Shannon Vaughan.
“We have had other teachers at Mira Costa who graduated from here at some point,” Vaughn said. “It is wonderful to see them come full circle.”
According to Wiseman, after being in New York for college, graduate school and for teaching, it was time to come back to Los Angeles to get back to her roots and create teaching opportunites at Costa.
“Costa has added some new buildings, but for the most part it doesn’t look or feel that different,” Wiseman said. “I feel so lucky to be new, but also to know my way around. A lot of my old teachers are here, and I’m grateful to have them as mentors and supporters of my teaching.”
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