By Stefanie Tyo

The Mirror Staff

“I like to challenge my students. I like to make them think, and be able to bring the best out of them, so I would say that that would be something that I look forward to everyday.”

PEOPLE

Math Department’s New Addition: Mrs. Truong

PHOTO BY SHIMLA RAHMAN MIRROR STAFF

INSIGHT: Ms. Truong wants her students to feel challenged.

The Math Department has a new addition: Mrs. Christine Truong, who teaches Algebra 1 and Geometry.

Mrs. Truong started teaching in 1987 and, after taking a roughly 10-year break, she decided to volunteer at her daughter’s elementary school, before taking a position at Van Nuys High.

“I wanted to be involved in a high school and this opportunity came up, and it seemed like a really cool school with three magnets and a regular home school.”

Now that she is permanently a part of our campus, she is excited to finally start teaching her students mathematics.

“I love math. I think math is very challenging, and it gives me the insight minds and how their minds work. Students are different learners, so to be able to incorporate all of that into my teaching is very rewarding.”

Becoming a part of a new school poses many new challenges, such as getting settled and comfortable with the new environment.

“It’s tough at first because there’s a lot of administrative work involved,” she said. “It’s always a little bit harder at the beginning, but I’m getting the hang of it.”

However, such obstacles don’t stop her from enjoying her classes and looking for ways to awaken the math geek in each of her students.

“I like to challenge my students,” Mrs. Truong said. “I like to make them think, and be able to bring the best out of them, so I would say that that would be something that I look forward to everyday.”

Mrs. Truong plans to emphasize discipline, teach students how to organize themselves, create a routine to stick to, and of course, encourage her pupils to study.

“I just want to be able to give something to the community, give something to my students, and be part of this community.”

PHOTO BY SHIMLA RAHMAN MIRROR STAFF

“I LOVE MATH”: Ms. Truong explains a concept to her fifth period math students.