Mr. O'Brien Teacher Feature
Name?
Kenji O’Brien
What school do you teach, and which school are you staying with next year?
Tahoma
What do you want students to call you now?
Mr. O’Brien, but a lot of the sophmores call me Kenji. I like that too, since I went by Kenji at my very first teaching job during the summer of 2006.
What is your favorite TV show?
Game of Thrones, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Mad Men
Favorite Color?
Green
THE MOST INTERESTING EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE EVER HAD EVER
Last weekend I left my cell phone in the bathroom of a gas station and someone stole it. Using my friend’s cell phone we were able to track down the person and get my phone back!
Favorite Student
All of my students are my favorites! :)
Why did you choose to become a teacher?
For a long time I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but one summer I took a job as an 8th grade chemistry teacher for the Breakthrough Sacramento. Teaching totally blew me away. I never found a job that allowed me to be so creative and independent. It was love at first sight.
Why did you choose to come to Summit?
When I was a student teacher at Stanford, I worked teaching 11th grade chemistry at the first Summit School in Redwood City. It was an amazing experience and I liked how innovative, passionate, and creative the teachers were. I knew that I had to work at a Summit school so I applied to Summit San Jose. The rest is history!
Were you, or were you not, raised by wolves?
I do love to howl at the moon every now and then.
When you were little, what did you want to be?
A sugar maker. I was really into eating candy, so I thought what better job to do than make sugar!
Where did you go to college and why?
I went to Brown University because of their unique approach to education. Grades are optional and you have the freedom to take whatever classes you want. You can even create your own major and your own classes. This is probably why I like the idea of Optimized so much. I thrive in an environment where I’m giving a lot of choice and freedom.
If you weren’t a teacher what would you be?
Maybe a doctor. I like being to help people and interacting with them on a daily basis
Favorite:
Number: 37
Saying/quote: The meaning of life is to live a life of meaning.
Movie: Shawshank Redemption, GATTACA, and The Matrix
BONUS QUESTIONS
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
Travel for a year all around the world.
If you were an animal, what you would be?
A bat, because I could fly and use my echolocation to find food.
Kenji O’Brien
What school do you teach, and which school are you staying with next year?
Tahoma
What do you want students to call you now?
Mr. O’Brien, but a lot of the sophmores call me Kenji. I like that too, since I went by Kenji at my very first teaching job during the summer of 2006.
What is your favorite TV show?
Game of Thrones, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Mad Men
Favorite Color?
Green
THE MOST INTERESTING EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE EVER HAD EVER
Last weekend I left my cell phone in the bathroom of a gas station and someone stole it. Using my friend’s cell phone we were able to track down the person and get my phone back!
Favorite Student
All of my students are my favorites! :)
Why did you choose to become a teacher?
For a long time I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but one summer I took a job as an 8th grade chemistry teacher for the Breakthrough Sacramento. Teaching totally blew me away. I never found a job that allowed me to be so creative and independent. It was love at first sight.
Why did you choose to come to Summit?
When I was a student teacher at Stanford, I worked teaching 11th grade chemistry at the first Summit School in Redwood City. It was an amazing experience and I liked how innovative, passionate, and creative the teachers were. I knew that I had to work at a Summit school so I applied to Summit San Jose. The rest is history!
Were you, or were you not, raised by wolves?
I do love to howl at the moon every now and then.
When you were little, what did you want to be?
A sugar maker. I was really into eating candy, so I thought what better job to do than make sugar!
Where did you go to college and why?
I went to Brown University because of their unique approach to education. Grades are optional and you have the freedom to take whatever classes you want. You can even create your own major and your own classes. This is probably why I like the idea of Optimized so much. I thrive in an environment where I’m giving a lot of choice and freedom.
If you weren’t a teacher what would you be?
Maybe a doctor. I like being to help people and interacting with them on a daily basis
Favorite:
Number: 37
Saying/quote: The meaning of life is to live a life of meaning.
Movie: Shawshank Redemption, GATTACA, and The Matrix
BONUS QUESTIONS
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
Travel for a year all around the world.
If you were an animal, what you would be?
A bat, because I could fly and use my echolocation to find food.