The role of the teacher is not to bestow knowledge onto students, but to facilitate the inquiry and growth of students as individuals. Our job is to help build communities of learning where students feel safe, respected, and challenged. We should strive to support students as they realize their own hopes and goals.”

Julia’s Story

Teaching Discipline

Mathematics

Why Mathematics

“So many students are utterly traumatized by their math education. Just imagine how many adults say that they “can’t do math,” or that they aren’t a “math person.” I chose to teach math because I want to interrupt this pattern and assert that all students can, and should, learn math. I want all students to see themselves in mathematics and feel that they belong. Besides, math is fun!”

Professional Experience

During her summers in college, Julia experienced teaching internships across the country.  

From Breakthrough Collaborative in Birmingham, Alabama, to the Brown University Teaching Experience for Undergraduates program in Providence, Rhode Island, she saw firsthand how various cultural, historical, and sociopolitical contexts influence the educational institutions that these communities serve.

Julia also worked as a math department mentor for two courses at Pomona College: Intro to Statistics and Number Theory and Cryptography.

She will begin teaching at Phillip & Sala Burton Academic High School during the 2018–2019 school year.

Hobbies

Julia enjoys writing and recording music; she sings, plays multiple instruments, and crafts many Spotify playlists.

Academic Background

  • Stanford University (Master of Arts in Education)
  • Pomona College (Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics)