Teacher Feature:
An Interview with Mr. Avarca and Ms. Toyama
The people of Summit should know the more important essential details about their teachers, so every issue will have a two teacher features. (Blue is Mr. Avarca, purple is Ms. Toyama)
What do you teach, and which school?
World Studies 1, Rainier 9th
World Studies 1, Tahoma 9th
What made you want to teach?
I wasn’t satisfied with the education some of my peers received in high school, so I wanted to be part of a profession that would support all students to be successful in college and future careers. I’m also a history nerd, so I wanted to be sure that I was always learning history and sharing my passion for it with other people.
I believe that education is very important to making a positive impact on society. I also really enjoy working with youth and helping them to achieve their goals.
Your favorite historical period/person/event?
This is always a hard question, there’s so many! I would have liked to be present when the Spaniards colonized the Americas, it’s a pretty revolutionary moment in history. Favorite historical person: Jesus! The fact that one man has influenced billions of people is extraordinary. I think a conversation with him would be interesting.
I think the Industrial Revolution is really interesting- the development of technology and it's my favorite thing to teach. My favorite thing to study is Japanese American History.
Favorite Student/Class?
Ha! Teachers have no favorites! BUT, My favorite class in high school was A..P. European History and my favorite class in college was Globalized Sexualities.(*Interviewer's Note: Mr. Avarca was later seen proclaiming that, "Yes. Seth Jahnsen is my favorite student.")
I love all my students equally, but here's a shoutout to my Debate Club and Student Council kids.
Why did you decide to teach at Summit?
Stanford has a really close relationship with Summit, so they basically helped me get a job. I also really like San Jose.
When you were little what did you want to be?
I wanted to be a children’s book author.
Why did you choose to go to Stanford?
They have a really, really, really good teacher education program.
Favorite-
Name
Billy
Toyama
Number
1
22- it's my birthday and my basketball number.
Saying
“Keep Calm and Carry On”
“Work hard, dream big.”
Movie
Y Tu Mama Tambien
Remember the Titans
Song
Sunday Morning by No Doubt
“Ain’t no Mountain High Enough” Marvin Gaye
Band
No Doubt
-Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey- all the divas
Music genre
I like 'em all. Don’t really have a favorite.
Hip Hop, RnB, Oldies
Country
El Salvador
That’s hard. I haven’t really been to many places. France was cool. I’ve never been to Japan, it’s the country I most want to visit.
State
California
California, Hands down.
City
Hmmm, this is hard. New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Brooklyn tie.
Sacramento. I love my home town.
Channel
Don’t really have a favorite.
I don’t really watch tv very much, I guess the history channel.
Color
BLUE!
medium green, polo green
Animal
Puppies!
Car
My Honda Civic
Hair product
? Hair gel?
Body wash
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap
Perfume
CK One
Item of clothing
T-shirts and GAP Jeans
Store
GAP
Food
Pizza
Restaurant
Pizza Chicago
Movie Quote
“I should have been black mamba”
- Kill Bill
Magazine
Rolling Stone
Holiday
Thanksgiving
Season
Holiday Season
Commercial
Aretha Franklin Snickers commercial
TV show
Currently, The Mindy Project
Youtube video
Too many
Ringtone
The Nokia ringtone
Place to eat
Pupuserias
Most played Song on Your Ipod?
Biggy “N.O.T.O.R.I.O.U.S.”
Favorite Book:
Kite Runner
Favorite Genre
Biographies, Autobiographies
If you could stay a certain age forever, what age would that be?
26
25
If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?
I don't think I would change my name
I guess I could go by my middle name, which is Misako.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you will do?
Pay off parents’ home.
If you had a theme song, it would be,
“I'm a Barbie Girl” hahaha. I don't know, actually.
If you were an animal/drink/ice cream flavor, you would be?
Animal: Eagle
Drink: Latte
Ice Cream: Rocky road
Animal:Cat
Drink: Diet Coke NO! Chai soy latte. It's my Starbucks drink.
-Interviewed by Anina Hitt
An Interview with Mr. Avarca and Ms. Toyama
The people of Summit should know the more important essential details about their teachers, so every issue will have a two teacher features. (Blue is Mr. Avarca, purple is Ms. Toyama)
What do you teach, and which school?
World Studies 1, Rainier 9th
World Studies 1, Tahoma 9th
What made you want to teach?
I wasn’t satisfied with the education some of my peers received in high school, so I wanted to be part of a profession that would support all students to be successful in college and future careers. I’m also a history nerd, so I wanted to be sure that I was always learning history and sharing my passion for it with other people.
I believe that education is very important to making a positive impact on society. I also really enjoy working with youth and helping them to achieve their goals.
Your favorite historical period/person/event?
This is always a hard question, there’s so many! I would have liked to be present when the Spaniards colonized the Americas, it’s a pretty revolutionary moment in history. Favorite historical person: Jesus! The fact that one man has influenced billions of people is extraordinary. I think a conversation with him would be interesting.
I think the Industrial Revolution is really interesting- the development of technology and it's my favorite thing to teach. My favorite thing to study is Japanese American History.
Favorite Student/Class?
Ha! Teachers have no favorites! BUT, My favorite class in high school was A..P. European History and my favorite class in college was Globalized Sexualities.(*Interviewer's Note: Mr. Avarca was later seen proclaiming that, "Yes. Seth Jahnsen is my favorite student.")
I love all my students equally, but here's a shoutout to my Debate Club and Student Council kids.
Why did you decide to teach at Summit?
Stanford has a really close relationship with Summit, so they basically helped me get a job. I also really like San Jose.
When you were little what did you want to be?
I wanted to be a children’s book author.
Why did you choose to go to Stanford?
They have a really, really, really good teacher education program.
Favorite-
Name
Billy
Toyama
Number
1
22- it's my birthday and my basketball number.
Saying
“Keep Calm and Carry On”
“Work hard, dream big.”
Movie
Y Tu Mama Tambien
Remember the Titans
Song
Sunday Morning by No Doubt
“Ain’t no Mountain High Enough” Marvin Gaye
Band
No Doubt
-Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey- all the divas
Music genre
I like 'em all. Don’t really have a favorite.
Hip Hop, RnB, Oldies
Country
El Salvador
That’s hard. I haven’t really been to many places. France was cool. I’ve never been to Japan, it’s the country I most want to visit.
State
California
California, Hands down.
City
Hmmm, this is hard. New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Brooklyn tie.
Sacramento. I love my home town.
Channel
Don’t really have a favorite.
I don’t really watch tv very much, I guess the history channel.
Color
BLUE!
medium green, polo green
Animal
Puppies!
Car
My Honda Civic
Hair product
? Hair gel?
Body wash
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap
Perfume
CK One
Item of clothing
T-shirts and GAP Jeans
Store
GAP
Food
Pizza
Restaurant
Pizza Chicago
Movie Quote
“I should have been black mamba”
- Kill Bill
Magazine
Rolling Stone
Holiday
Thanksgiving
Season
Holiday Season
Commercial
Aretha Franklin Snickers commercial
TV show
Currently, The Mindy Project
Youtube video
Too many
Ringtone
The Nokia ringtone
Place to eat
Pupuserias
Most played Song on Your Ipod?
Biggy “N.O.T.O.R.I.O.U.S.”
Favorite Book:
Kite Runner
Favorite Genre
Biographies, Autobiographies
If you could stay a certain age forever, what age would that be?
26
25
If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?
I don't think I would change my name
I guess I could go by my middle name, which is Misako.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you will do?
Pay off parents’ home.
If you had a theme song, it would be,
“I'm a Barbie Girl” hahaha. I don't know, actually.
If you were an animal/drink/ice cream flavor, you would be?
Animal: Eagle
Drink: Latte
Ice Cream: Rocky road
Animal:Cat
Drink: Diet Coke NO! Chai soy latte. It's my Starbucks drink.
-Interviewed by Anina Hitt