From the moment she walked through the front door of LFCSA on the way to her interview with Principal Newlin, Janene Chan knew she was home. The artwork on the walls, the pictures of smiling, happy children lining the hallways, as well as parents who moved freely in and out of classrooms, made a real impression on her. She felt an immediate sense of belonging and a deep desire to help grow our burgeoning school. Now, just a few months later, our new 3rd grade teacher could not be more excited at her good fortune to have found a school whose overall teaching philosophy is so congruent and aligned with her own.
Ms. Chan is a relatively new teacher; she received her teaching credential less than one year ago at Long Beach State after graduating with a degree in Sociology from UCSB. Yet teaching is a natural expression of her deep sense of care and commitment to children’s creativity and curiosity. Having worked at Girls, Inc. (an after-school program for under-privileged youth) all through college, Ms. Chan developed her own unique way of encouraging kids to always do their best—no matter what challenges they may be facing. She comes to the classroom with a “can do” attitude and has a particular knack for turning obstacles into possibilities.
Dancing with whatever comes her way, Ms. Chan loves to be spontaneous, going with the organic flow of whatever is happening in the classroom. In doing so, she models resourcefulness and enthusiasm for learning, as well as makes school fun for all. While she doesn’t consider herself an artist per say, she acknowledges that her whole teaching style is highly creative and emergent.
Ms. Chan says that she is there 110% for her kids, and she has a vigorous commitment to ensure that her students love learning. She does her best to instill a thirst for knowledge and an enthusiasm for coming to school each day. She always focuses on what a child does best and frequently gives praise on what he or she was able to accomplish that day. She believes that asking the right questions is more important than feeding children the right answers—so that they can develop critical thinking skills and learn how to problem solve in creative and innovative ways.
Ms. Chan, who is the middle child of three, was born to parents who immigrated to the United States from China in order to attend college. She currently lives in Hermosa Beach and uses her long commute to reflect upon her day and her work with her students. When asked one silly thing that no one would ever guess about her, she thinks for a moment before breaking out into a big smile. “I played trombone in the 7th and 8th grade!”
Welcome, Ms. Chan. We are delighted to have you with us and know that our children are in good hands.
