“Everything in life has a solution except for death and taxes,” she asserts. Ms. Santos is the new Journalism and English 11 teacher here at Laguna Beach High School. Sharing her stories from her past years, Ms. Santos is a teacher whose journey–led by passion and confidence–is truly one to learn from.
Growing up in Downtown Tustin, known by many as “Old Town Tustin,” Ms. Santos describes her childhood as “filled with music.” Appreciating classic rock through bands like Led Zeppelin, The Smiths, and The Strokes, the musical community she grew up around shaped how she feels about music now. “I remember researching bands and saving up for my own record player,” she recalls. Alongside music, writing became her other great love, with journals and diaries capturing her thoughts from a young age—pieces of her past she cherishes to this day. Her love for writing “came naturally” to her at a young age; since then, she’s loved every part of it, and she has no desire to stop anytime soon.
At Cal State Long Beach, where she started pursuing her dream of teaching, she had the opportunity to start her career of student teaching alongside one of her former teachers who inspired her to become one too, Mr. Garcia. “He could connect with his students in such a meaningful way,” she says, “I only hope to embody one percent of what he did.” It’s this inspiration that drives her attitude and perspective as an educator. By building meaningful relationships with her students, Ms. Santos hopes to inspire them just as she was once inspired during her time in high school. Still, as a first-generation college graduate and the oldest of three sisters, Ms. Santos carries a sense of responsibility not just to her family but to her students as well. Her mother, a source of high expectations and unwavering support, remains her greatest inspiration. After graduation, but before her time here at Laguna Beach High School, she worked as a substitute teacher in Orange County. She has spent time at every high school in Irvine, bringing a unique and fresh perspective to our school.
Her Journalism class is an anomaly, taking a much different approach than any traditional Writing or English course. For Ms. Santos, journalism is more than just reporting, “It’s a valuable class because it’s stories,” she notes. By sharing unique perspectives one wouldn’t usually hear, she encourages her students to represent the underrepresented. She views articles as more than just facts but narratives. “I think of [journalism] as creative writing…it all comes down to autonomy.”
When asked about her hopes for her future here at Laguna Beach High School, Ms. Santos reveals, “If it were in [her] control, [she] would stay here forever.” As a part-time teacher, her future may be uncertain, but she knows that everything will fall into place, which is a liberating mindset that everyone can learn something from. Ms. Santos is still not done learning, as she is still working on earning her Spanish and French teaching credentials. She employs a sort of work ethic that drives her to continue to strive for and pursue just what she loves. Ms. Santos hopes to be an inspiration to students as well as encourage critical and independent thought, and to provide her students a creative outlet. While she is a teacher, she is also a mentor because of her being easily approachable and her calm manner, making students feel relaxed while also being productive, something that students truly appreciate. Her optimism and positivity are evident to all and contagious. Overall, it is not just her knowledge that makes her a good teacher. It is her kindness, positivity, and wonderful personality that will take her very far throughout her life.
Throughout her teaching career, Ms. Santos’ goal “has been to instill confidence in [her] students.” She feels that when a student feels secure in their abilities but still curious to learn more, that is when they can truly succeed. Ms. Santos thinks that the true joy at the school makes LBHS resemble a high school movie; when she gets to campus, she is “amazed by the spirit that the students and the teachers have.” She’s inspired by the optimism and excitement to learn and be here exhibited by students. It is without a doubt that Ms. Santos will continue to inspire and encourage her students, wherever they may be, to be their best selves.
