By Maddie Nerad
Staff Writer
With a new school year comes new ideas, new classes, new routines and, of course, new teachers. This year Mira Costa is welcoming a new CP chemistry and biology teacher, Teresa Nielsen, and a new CP English teacher, William Brown.
Over the summer, both Brown and Nielsen went through an application process that consisted of two separate interviews.
“They both sat for two panels,” Principal Dr. Ben Dale said. “The first consisted of the department chairs, one vice principal and me. The second consisted of another vice principal and me.”
Brown worked in the district previously and, according to Dale, his “stellar reputation” is what landed him the job. Brown worked in the Mira Costa English department from 1991 until 2008 when he left to teach English internationally in Beijing, China.
“This year I hope to help my students go beyond their boundaries [in the classroom],” Brown said. “I want them to use what they learn to help others.”
Brown is teaching sophomore and senior English classes. He focuses on helping his students fully understand and appreciate the literature they read in class.
“Brown never simplified anything for us,” former student Austin Siegmund-Broka said. “He took us into complex and fascinating literary analyses with the confidence that we would stay with him during the lesson and his teaching skills. I always loved the professional atmosphere he brought to the classroom. He respected all of us a lot, which I think made us respect ourselves.”
Nielsen is currently teaching both CP chemistry and biology at Costa. Nielsen missed the first two weeks of school after her former employer, Fullerton Joint Union High School District, refused to release her due to contract obligations until it found a replacement. Although her students had a substitute during the beginning of school, Dale feels that Nielsen is a quality teacher who was worth the wait.
“Mrs. Nielsen was a steal, literally, and she demonstrated an expertise as a teacher through the interview process,” Dale said. “We felt very fortunate to pull her away from her former school.”
Nielsen had prieviously worked at Dos Pueblos High School, near Santa Barbara, for three years, and then worked at Sonora High School in Fullerton for five years. She has taught CP chemistry, consistently since her start as a teacher, as well as CP biology, which was her favorite subject as a student.
“My experience at Costa so far has been extremely positive,” Nielsen said. “The Costa staff has been welcoming and friendly, and the students are motivated and intelligent. I love the school spirit.”
This year, Nielsen hopes to attend performing arts and sporting events, so she can see her talented students in action. She has her first class website up and running and hopes to be able to use it as a communication device and close the gap between herself, the students, and the parents. She plans to have students conduct experiments as much as possible.
“In the classroom, Mrs. Nielsen is very positive and helpful,” sophomore Nick Soloman said. “I look forward to learning a lot in the upcoming year.”
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