Simon Janzen – Physics Instructor
Q: What has your experience at Laguna been like thus far?
A: “I’ve loved it. The emphasis that the school places on building relationships is really obvious. There are so many ways for teachers to enter relationships with their students, and just to start the year off, going on a camping trip with the entire junior class was amazing.”
Q: What is one teacher who stood out to you or inspired who you are today?
A: “Surprisingly enough, my band teacher. I played band throughout middle and high school and had the same teacher the whole time. It was great to see the same person who just kept investing in me over and over again and pushing for high standards and excellence. He reminded us that it’s not just about the end, but it’s about every day in between.”
Elana Muzzy – Biology Instructor
Q: What brought you to Laguna?
A: “I got a position working as the assistant coach for cross country, and while I was here, I ended up making contact with Staci Richard, the former Science Research Program Coordinator. After presenting my research and visiting many of her classes, I really liked how everyone interacted at this school, so I knew this would be a great place to work.”
Q: Did you always know you wanted to teach something in the STEM field?
A: “I knew I wanted to teach science. I enjoy science and engineering and looking at the world around me. For example, looking at plants and knowing that they are photosynthesizing and how they are responsible for taking the energy from the sun. That all makes me so curious about science.”
Angela Doermann ‘08 – US Latin Instructor
Q: What makes Laguna different from other schools you considered?
A: “I like how Laguna feels like a family and how there is more one-on-one learning. When I spent time shadowing big classrooms in larger schools, I felt as though I couldn’t make as much of a difference as opposed to working with a smaller group. And as a teacher specializing in language, which can be complicated and complex, the smaller class sizes allow students to thrive.”
Q: Do you implement any specific teaching styles or activities into your lessons?
A: “I try to make at least one element of fun in each class period. This is because you can get bogged down in the nitty-gritty when it comes to things like grammar in a language. Even if it’s for five or ten minutes, we always try to include a fun part in class to balance with the heavier material.”
Collene Pavlics – Academics Services Director
Q: What was your first teaching experience like?
A: “I started working in middle school with kids who were having a hard time and experienced different learning challenges. I got to see what it was like to help them in a classroom. Since it was a project-based learning school, we were doing these big projects to help them understand the material. It was really neat to work alongside these kids and help them achieve really great work.”
Q: Did you always know you wanted to teach in this field?
A: “I’ve known I wanted to do this for a long time. I always liked school, which makes it easier. I enjoy helping people and building relationships. I knew I wanted to be in school working with kids, and as I got older, I realized I wanted to work with helping people understand themselves better and how they can learn better.”
