CMLF Favorite Teachers Awards - Meet Rebeca Millam, TeWinkle Middle School
We interviewed each of the final four candidates for the Costa Mesa Library Foundation's "Favorite Teacher Award" in an effort to enable our readers to to get to know them a little better. This is Part 3 of our 4 part series of interviews...(Rebeca Millam is a History Teacher at TeWinkle Middle School. - Editor)Were you aware of the Favorite Teacher Awards before you were informed that you were a nominee? (IF YES - ) Did you think you had a chance to be nominated? (why?)I was not aware of the award or the nomination. It came as a complete surprise, a fun one at that!What made you want to become a teacher?I was always a “so-so” student content with earning C’s because I wasn’t aware there was anything better. I was also the student who was the class clown, talkative, loud, and often spacey. I started to wonder how I could combine these “talents” and make it into a job. Acting? No job security. Comedian? I didn’t have a car. After taking my first history college course I was hooked! Now I needed to find a job where I could use my social skills and talk history all day long, TEACHING!!! As I took more education classes and got involved in clubs and organization geared towards teaching and social reform, I knew teaching history was my calling and I had/ have such a passion to teach kids the importance of being a kid like I was and how history can teach us the story of regular people doing amazing things. I don’t just teach history but I spread the importance of it. What experiences, not related to your job or education, do you feel prepared you the most for teaching?Personal experiences are what shape us as individuals. So for me, a Mexican immigrant coming from a single parent home with 3 younger brothers, one who has special needs, have motivated me and shaped my work ethic. My story is so typical and can be concluded as so many do, hardships, bad relationships, no education, and ultimately failure, but never giving up and listening to my mom and other teachers constantly telling me to “keep my head up,” “work hard,” “no crying allowed,” and “work, work, work” always kept me going forward. If it wasn’t for my family always motivating me, keeping me humble, and making me laugh, or my teachers exposing me to the bigger and better things in life, I could have easily ended up as a nobody. And now look at me, according to my students and colleagues, Im a somebody!What do you consider to be your biggest strengths as a teacher?My biggest strengths as a teacher come from my background as being both a goofball and struggling learner. I always try to keep my class lectures to a minimum allowing for student centered learning. But when I do lecture, I like to be loud, comical, and dramatic. Im a great story teller and I integrate that into my teaching. I also always keep in mind how diverse TeWinkle is and our different learners who have different needs. With the help of other history teachers throughout NMUSD, I plan, teach, and reflect on the successes and struggles of all my students. I often can relate to their academic and personal struggles because I have a similar story to them and I can testify to a hard work ethic making you successful. Costa Mesa Library Foundation President Barbara Steck was quoted as saying, “You can never give too much credit to the teachers.” What does this mean to you?Great quote! Teachers don’t just teach, especially at TeWinkle. We are mothers and fathers, counselors, nurses, coaches, resource specialist, comedian, disciplinarian, translator, secretary, accountant, chaperone, the list goes on. Give us teachers some credit, we are so much to so many and can be resourceful and tactful when we need to be. Especially when juggling so many roles at once. Growing up, who was your favorite teacher and why? (Grade, subject, City, State, District and/or school, for reference, if you will)· Mrs. Tomlinson, Kinder, Orange Unified (I lost track after 3rd grade), giving me a plethora of books to love!· Mrs. _____ (cant remember her name), 4th grade, OUSD, taught me all I know about California history. I also loved to look at old black and white picture.· Mrs. Granger, 5th, GGUSD, gave me the travel bug· 2 teachers from school I attended in Mexico, cant remember their names, taught me the importance of being strict but fair and never to accept low expectations from my students.· Mrs. Chertock, 11th grade English, OUSD, allowed me to use my “social skills” to express my love for F.Scott Fitzgerald, 70’s classic rock, poetry, and how I wished I lived during the 1920’s.· JoMarie Hayes Costa Mesa Middle School and Jackie Washington TeWinkle Middle School, current colleagues and once master teacher, NMUSD, for teaching me that teaching is full of amazing teachers who love and care for their students but also need to go home to take care of themselves.Please tell me briefly what you think my readers need to know about TeWinkle and the History Department.Please let your readers know that TeWinkle is a school with amazing teachers and amazing students. Our teachers are thoughtful, resourceful, and most importantly caring. Our students come with different backgrounds, strengths, and weaknesses. They are the ones that motivate us to try harder. Overall, I would call our kids "classy." As a coordinator for the Eastern Seaboard tour, I was able to see first hand how observant, polite, and thoughtful TeWinkle Trojans are. Even critical, which is an important quality to have in young minds. When steered the right way, as TeWinkle teachers do, our kids can become powerful advocates and leaders in our community. Our history department, the best in the world, is strong because everyone keeps in mind that history is not only another class in a set of 6 classes, but is a study in how people can work together to make amazing changes happen. Our Newport Mesa History Teachers, but especially TeWinkle teachers, are always seeking professional development, even traveling out of the state for it, stand out as natural leaders within our district, and collaborate and share their best teaching practices throughout the district. Wee seek out new ideas and share them with each other to make all of the Newport Mesa District stronger.This one is just for fun...What color outfit do you plan to wear to the Gala.I hope to meet you there in person! I dress very "vintagy." Trust me, you'll know its me by my 50's style!My daughters are in high school now, and they each had the assignment of building a replica of one of the California Missions...Did you have thisassignment in 4th Grade? If so, which Mission did you choose?Santa Barbara of course!! I remember picking it because of the landscape. It's such a beautiful mission.You must know Misty Smith and Denise McKenzie, two of the other finalists, both your colleagues at TeWinkle. Do you also know CindyFernald, the other nominee for this award...can you describe each of them in one sentence?I do not have the honor of knowing Cindy, I've heard nothing but good things from colleagues. I give mad props to any elementary school teacher. How they teach so many young little ones is beyond me! Based on the attitudes of our current 7th and 8th grade students, these elementary school teachers are really focused on sending off students who try and excel both academically and socially.Misty: Misty Smith's talent in teaching English and AVID is amazing! She can bring out the most powerful poetic emotions from a middle school student, such a personal connection can only be made through literature which she inspires in kids. Oh, and on top of that she is key in sending AVID students towards a college path. Geez...Amazing!!Denise: I've sat in as a student in her class. Her students are thinking in such complex ways and it seems to be so elementary. She's patient, caring, and so hard working always giving up her breaks and any other time to her kids. Here is a person who simply refuses to give up on all her kids. Such a hard teacher to follow. She's so good at what she does! Do you think it's a coincidence that all four nominees for this year's award have spent time teaching at Mesa Verde Schools? (Ms.Fernald taught at Adams Elementary until June 2013.)No, because we're awesome on this side!