ERIN QUINT, Social Sciences
What are your hobbies?
I play slow pitch softball on a co-ed team in San Francisco. I also am obsessed with musicals, so if you find me in my car I’ll probably be listening to NPR or showtunes, maybe some old jazz standards.
What’s your favorite part about teaching history?
History when it’s done right is … the greatest story that’s ever been told because you can find a point of history about any type of person… The more you dig into things, the more you can find how much people contradict each other and how kind of convoluted it all is to find the truth of it.
Who was your biggest inspiration growing up?
I had an absolutely phenomenal eighth grade social studies team. They were two team teachers … One of them was a Civil War reenactor, and one day he turned off all the lights and explained how you would amputate a leg during the Civil War. He had a kid lay down, pretend do everything and all of the sudden, he pulled out this bloody, fake, rubber leg.
He was the first person who really brought history to life for me … I’m [also] really fortunate [for my mom, who] is a force of nature. You do not cross that woman, and you listen when she speaks because she is going to impart some wisdom onto you.
Are you excited to be teaching at Aragon?
I am thrilled to be at Aragon. All my students have been really pleasant to me … There’s a great sense of school spirit here and a determination to move forward in life and embrace kind of life as you live it … [With the] strong emphasis on academics, I’m really excited to push you guys and be surrounded by such an amazing, supportive history staff.
LINDSAY BUSSEY, English
How did you get into teaching?
I got into teaching by accident … I was double majoring [in] fashion design [and] fashion merchandising and I moved back from college, and I just needed a job while I looked for a job in the fashion industry.
I got an offer for a permanent instructional associate position … and I stayed there for three years … I was substituting and then our instructional vice principal asked me if I wanted to teach English in the fall and I said yeah, absolutely. So I truly fell into teaching by accident and realized I loved it.
What is your favorite part of teaching?
The discussions. I like for the students to have a platform to be able to verbally process and share ideas with each other and me. It is important to value experience and living life and to bring that into discussion incorporate that into the curriculum.
What do you want your legacy to be at Aragon?
I want to be known as a teacher who is compassionate, who has high expectations for all students, who is very approachable and friendly and that really has the heart for students … [I want my students to] know that I am one hundred percent invested in their success.
What are some hobbies or activities you love?
I love movies and watching movies and everything on Bravo and VH1. I love my trash TV. Love. I also really love reading. [I] love cooking and having dinner parties.
VICKY REYES, Academic Counselor
Did you always want to be a counselor?
No, actually not at first. When I was younger, probably in elementary school, I always thought of going into the medical field.
It was not until I went to college that I started volunteering for different medical clinics or hospitals that I [realized it wasn’t] for me. So, I started volunteering in different schools and I realized how passionate I was working with students and thought maybe this is the field for me; maybe going into education was something I wanted to do.
I was taking some classes and was volunteering at different schools at that time, and in the end I decided to change my major in the middle of college and started all over and changed to another major. It’s actually been an amazing experience and I haven’t regretted it.
What’s your favorite movie?
“Coco,” [because] I’m really into animation movies and I like the story line. Also The Greatest Showman! It’s a very unique movie and it talks about individuality and how it’s okay to be different; I really appreciate that.
How do you think high school has changed since your high school years?
Social media. Technology has changed a lot … how we rely on technology … It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s good because it’s opening a lot of doors. We’re learning about something completely different … [Otherwise] I feel like high school is pretty much the same.
If you could give one tip to a student, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to be yourself. I feel everyone is different for a reason and everyone brings their own unique perspective into what makes the culture and the environment of the school so amazing.
LEA SANGUINETTI, Guidance Counselor
What is your favorite part about working in a high school?
I would say my most favorite part about working in a high school is the students. I love the broad range of students that I get to meet. In my prior school, I had every grade level, here at Aragon I am solely ninth grade.
I’m really enjoying that just because I enjoy helping with the transition into high school. Really, this past month, I’ve just been getting to know my students, trying to call in as many as I can just to introduce myself.
What are some of your interests and hobbies outside of school?
I was interviewed for the [Aragon High School] Instagram page, and I figured out then that I don’t have many hobbies and interests because I have small children. I feel like I do so much with them right now. I love to travel, I love trying new restaurants. It’s one of my fun things to do.
Even though I [was] born and raised here, I love traveling around the Bay Area like I’m a tourist and checking out things that maybe I haven’t seen before.
I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old so they keep me busy. It’s been really fun seeing life through their eyes … and reliving things with them.
What are your favorite restaurants and what are your favorite types of food?
My favorite type of food is either Mexican food or Italian. One of my favorite restaurants is actually in Burlingame, it’s called ‘Stella Alpina Osteria.’ They import a lot of their food and their ingredients from Italy.
Who do you think has influenced you and your life the most?
I would say probably my father. He raised me by himself. My parents separated and he got full custody when I was one or two years old. It was just me and him growing up.
He’s my biggest influence in life because he showed me such a strong work ethic, he taught me that even though things can be rough at times, as long as you have family around you, you can really get through anything. He has taught me to be resilient.
MACKENZIE SHAY, Academic Advisor
How do you hope to inspire students?
I hope to inspire students by giving them a place to come if they need support or need help or feel they need a trusted adult. So I hope by forming those relationships [that] kind of inspires them to be the best version of themselves.
If you could give one tip to a student, what would it be?
I would say never be afraid to ask for help because I feel a lot of students feel like they’re inconveniencing or annoying the teacher and that they’re always wrong because teachers always want to help and they want kids to ask for help.
What’s your ideal breakfast?
Something from like Denny’s. Huge pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, cheese, even an omelette. A big breakfast.
Have you been enjoying your experience at Aragon?
It’s been really great so far. Everyone’s been super helpful, polite and gone out of their way to make me feel welcome. So I really enjoy it.
What is your favorite TV show?
“This is Us.” It always ends with me crying, but it’s so good. It shows complex relationships that are not like the superficial, stereotypical TV relationships but reflect reality.
Why did you decide to become a counselor?
I started out as an English teacher. I kind of just wanted to explore other avenues in education. I thought being a counseling advisor would allow my to the different parts of a student, especially helping them out with mental health and academics. It’s kind of a new perspective.
Looking back on your high school experience, what is your favorite memory?
Probably this class called “Acting and Directing.” I used to be really shy and it kind of forced me to come out of my shell.
SARA KIXMOELLER, English
What got you into teaching?
I was a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa. I was an environmental volunteer, and the local elementary school wanted to do environmental education, so that’s when I first started working with schools. I really loved working with students and teachers, so after I got back from the Peace Corps, I go into teaching school.
Is this the first school you have taught at?
No, I taught for about eight years in Fremont at Kennedy High School … I taught in South Africa for a few years, then I taught in Alameda for a couple of years.
What is one of your favorite parts about being a teacher?
There’s never a boring day. Honestly, it’s not repetitive. I worked at a nonprofit for one year and it was more of an office job. I would just get really bored. Interacting with students—you guys are hilarious—keeps the job exciting. Every day is different.
What do you hope to accomplish at Aragon?
This is the first time I’ve taught seniors in a while, so [I want to] really help seniors feel confident with writing going into college and also confident forming opinions. I know when I was in college, those were two things I really struggled with … I think it’s important that we’re talking about what’s going on in the world.
