Getting to know Genie Son, two things are immediately clear. First, that she makes the most of every minute she gets to be an educator. And second, that she fits in beautifully with our school. Ms. Son is a compassionate, creative, and committed teacher in awe of our school and kids by her own admission. During our chat, one particular comment Ms. Son offered rolled out effortlessly, flooring me with its depth and succinct reflection of our school and its philosophy: “I’m learning how to become a facilitator of knowledge, not just a dispenser of knowledge.”
In just a few minutes, it’s clear why Ms. Son is one of the five outstanding new LFCSA faculty to join our community this 2008-2009 school year. She loves teaching, she is inspired that “the kids feel confident in a safe learning environment,” and she gets things done. For example, why is there a second grade website? “Oh, that’s because the teachers were bouncing the idea around, and I said that I’ve done it before.” After putting her head together with the second grade team about initial content, it was done! That’s just one example of the Ms. Son our kids engage with everyday.
Ms. Son says she “loves being part of something new with a group that is focused on doing what is right for children.” One of her personal favorites: “It’s a joy to teach students how to become better readers, and our leveled program is great in differentiating reading for our students. It allows them to read books that interest them, and they are always reading books that are ‘just right.’”
A graduate of UC Irvine in Psychology and Education, Ms. Son also received her advanced degree and credentials from Biola University. Originally from the Bay Area, she honed her teaching experience with first graders at a private school in San Jose, simultaneously supporting her family’s restaurant business as a waitress until 10 p.m. nightly. The sale of the family business initiated her return to Southern California to teach and finish her thesis.
Ms. Son’s introduction to charter schools was the 2008 Los Angeles Charter Schools Career Fair. Curious about “the booth with the display of student artwork,” which served as her initial impression of LFCSA, she says she immediately sensed a common philosophy in our arts-based focus. She was back in San Jose when the call came for an interview with Principal Newlin. She arranged a flight and says of the experience, “I don’t think I ever felt more relaxed in an interview.”
Almost a year later and now thoroughly rooted with us, Ms. Son says, “I had no idea how amazing this school is. The staff is so talented, and we are [sincerely] sacrificial of our time and energy for the kids.”
“One observation I’ve made about my students early on is their ability to clearly explain their thinking. It’s important for kids to understand that we all possess different ways of understanding a concept, and sometimes it’s okay to take a different route to get to the same destination.”
Ms. Son’s extra-curricular time away from LFCSA is currently consumed completing her thesis. The topic explores the push/pull factors influencing parents to choose charter schools for their children—and she “thanks you in advance (smile) for responding to her questionnaire on the subject!”
