Pearl Arredondo: My story, from gangland daughter to star teacher

Summary

A teacher reflects on overcoming the challenges of growing up in a gang-affiliated neighborhood, with a troubled family life, to ultimately become a passionate educator. Despite early struggles and a lack of support, she found mentors who encouraged her to rise above her circumstances. As a teacher, she shares her story with students to show them that everyone has challenges, but with the right support, they can succeed. She also helped found a new school that prioritizes rigorous, relevant learning and empowers students to defy expectations, demonstrating the importance of community involvement and the fight for quality education.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker grew up in East Los Angeles, unaware of being poor, and had a father involved in gangs and a mother who was fiercely independent and worked at a local high school.
• 😀 Despite challenges at home, the speaker's mother ensured they received support, pushing them to get out of their circumstances, including sending them to a school an hour and a half away for better education.
• 😀 At their new school, the speaker encountered a mix of students, including those involved in gangs, but was determined to avoid falling into the same cycle.
• 😀 Many teachers at the speaker's school initially doubted their potential, but the speaker proved them wrong by graduating high school and being accepted to Pepperdine University.
• 😀 After graduating, the speaker returned to the same school as a special education assistant and eventually decided to become a teacher, aiming to help students like themselves.
• 😀 The speaker created a safe environment for their students, sharing their own story to inspire others who might face similar struggles.
• 😀 The speaker introduced the idea of creating a new school with a focus on building strong relationships with students and providing an education tailored to their needs, instead of being limited by the traditional district system.
• 😀 The new school, the San Fernando Institute for Applied Media, was designed to give teachers more freedom in their curriculum and hiring choices, while still receiving support from the district.
• 😀 Creating the new school was challenging, especially with opposition from others who feared it might fail, but the school proved successful with a unique, student-centered approach.
• 😀 The school uses technology, real-world projects like public service announcements, and has seen improved state test scores by over 80 points, proving the effectiveness of the approach.
• 😀 Success at the new school is the result of collaboration between teachers, administrators, parents, and the community, with everyone working together to create a better environment for students.
• 😀 The speaker advocates for quality education in local communities, where students shouldn't have to travel far for a good school. They believe kids from backgrounds like theirs should not be the exception but the norm in succeeding academically.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial perception of their life growing up in East Los Angeles?

The speaker initially did not realize they were poor, as their father was a high-ranking gang member, and they felt protected and important due to their father's reputation. They believed they were a 'big deal' in their community.

How did the speaker describe the role of their mother in their life?

The speaker's mother was described as fiercely independent and hardworking. She worked as a secretary in the dean's office at a local high school, where she interacted with students who were disciplined, providing a stable and supportive presence in the speaker's life.

What is the significance of the speaker's story about finding their father convulsing on the bathroom floor?

The story of finding their father overdosing highlights the extreme challenges the speaker faced growing up, and it also demonstrates the difficulty of focusing on schoolwork during such traumatic events. It emphasizes the need for a support network in overcoming personal struggles.

Why did the speaker's mother send them to a different school an hour and a half away?

The speaker's mother decided to send them to a school far from their home because the local junior high was gang-infested with a high teacher turnover rate. She wanted her child to have a better education and the opportunity to succeed.

How did the speaker's high school experience differ from their earlier schooling?

At the new school, there was a mix of students, including those affiliated with gangs and others who were trying to stay out of trouble. Despite the challenges, the speaker managed to graduate, which surprised some teachers who had written them off as a lost cause.

What led the speaker to become a teacher, and what was their approach to teaching?

The speaker wanted to become a teacher after being accepted to Pepperdine University and later returning to their old school as a special ed assistant. They aimed to help students who were in similar situations to theirs, sharing their own background to show that everyone has struggles and needs help along the way.

Can you describe a memorable teaching experience the speaker shared?

The speaker recalls a memorable moment when a student came to class after being stabbed the night before, refusing medical attention because they wanted to graduate. This showed the student's commitment to their education and the speaker's determination to help students overcome their challenges.

Why did the speaker feel that creating a new school was necessary?

The speaker believed that a new school was needed to provide a more personalized and supportive environment for students. They wanted to build strong relationships with students, offer freedom in curriculum, and improve the overall quality of education, as they felt that large schools with high teacher turnover could not achieve these goals.

What were the key features of the San Fernando Institute for Applied Media that set it apart from traditional schools?

The San Fernando Institute for Applied Media emphasized freedom in hiring teachers, controlling the curriculum, and managing the budget. The school used technology extensively, such as laptops, tablets, and animation software, and allowed students to engage in real-world projects like making public service announcements for the Cancer Society.

How did the school’s success impact the community and the students?

The school's success was measured by an increase in state test scores and the creation of a more engaging and relevant curriculum. The community and parents were involved in governance, and the school became a source of pride. The speaker stressed that students should have access to quality education in their own neighborhoods.

What is the speaker's vision for the future of students from similar backgrounds to theirs?

The speaker’s vision is that students like them, who come from difficult circumstances, should stop being the exception and instead become the norm. They believe that all students deserve the opportunity to succeed and should be empowered to overcome their challenges with the support of dedicated teachers and a strong community.