I've been teaching at TMAHS since 2009. We've been through many changes, but true to our mascot, the Phoenix, we always rise. I teach Senior Seminar, so I help all of our twelfth graders with college applications, financial aid, scholarships, and planning for life after high school. Every time a student submits an application, they ring the bell, and the whole class cheers. It's my favorite tradition.
-Thurgood Marshall Academic High School teacher
Burton played a pivotal role in helping me DREAM BIG.
Dr. Ruby Uasami "Fanaika" Fa'agau
-Philip and Sala Burton High School Alum
My XC season has been amazing. Every practice and race has shown me how much I’ve improved and grown. I’m grateful for my coaches, teammates, and the fact that I can push myself beyond my limits.
-Senior and Student-Athlete at George Washington High School
I’m really excited for this year where we have a new menu for the kids. If they were here last year, this year they’ll see something totally new.
-Culinary Manager, Student Nutrition Services
I’ve been with the District for 46 wonderful, beautiful, blessed years. I love the Warriors and I love the kids.
-Instructional Aide at Tule Elk Park Early Education School
I love the people of SFUSD: the students, families, and all of us - the staff members that serve those students and families. It really does feel like we are all one big family.
-Principal, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Middle School
I love my work because it allows me to impart the joys to science, art, literacy, and math to my students. They end up learning that every subject is intricately connected in the real world. Students feel a real sense of pride and ownership in making those deep connections.
-Everett Middle School science teacher
I love the numerous opportunities SFUSD strives to provide and how distinct they can all be. I believe they really allow for well-rounded students and future workers.
-Senior at George Washington High School, Summer intern at Culinary Artistas
I like Burton because I feel like it's a really tight-knit community where everyone supports each other.
-Senior at Phillip and Sala Burton High School, Summer Intern at Junior Giants
I love connecting with families and students and supporting them in learning how to navigate the world and each other.
-James Denman Middle School Head Counselor
I just love being with kids, being inspired by them. I love their curiosity and I love collaborating with other teachers and staff to help our kids learn and have fun while doing it.
-El Dorado Elementary Kindergarten teacher
My favorite part about my job is seeing the wins. I think we have a population that is underserved. So just someone checking in on you and saying I see you, I care about you, I want you to win, all those things have really long standing outcomes that I think we don’t see in the moment but are huge wins. So when we celebrate that with the kids that’s the biggest win to me.
-Wellness Coordinator at Phillip and Sala Burton High School
I’ve wanted to teach since I was in high school. It’s something I’ve always loved doing. Getting to be part of the growth of these students is amazing. I love working with the kids and community at Glen Park.
-Glen Park Elementary special education teacher
I get emails and save all the cards that students have written to me. Building relationships builds community and makes society better and stronger.
-Special Education teacher at Glen Park Elementary
I get to know the families and they love me and tell me I’m their auntie. I love working with the kids, they’re my life. They are our future. I could retire but I’m not going to retire. As long as babies are being born, I want to work with them.
-Special Education Paraprofessional at Malcolm X Academy
My favorite thing about being a SFUSD teacher is the diversity. I get to meet with so many people and collaborate with so many people across the district. These students and families really remind me of myself when I was younger and that's what makes Malcolm X special.
Kindergarten Teacher, Malcolm X Academy
I love teaching PE because the kids just run here. This is the best part of their day. You get to be the ambassador of fun and what’s so beautiful about teaching PE is it’s social-emotional, it’s physical, it’s cognitive. There’s so much that you can do to really access and develop those parts of a student's whole experience.
Physical Education Teacher, Miraloma Elementary School
I think saving the environment is important to our future and something I want to be involved in.
10th Grade, Abraham Lincoln High School
I really love seeing the ‘a-ha’ moments with the kids as they’re connecting things they’re learning or have seen before when I share knowledge about different plants and animals.
Naturalist, SFUSD Environmental Science Center
It’s always a trip down memory lane coming back to the schools, going into classrooms, and meeting with the teachers and staff.
SFUSD Alum (Rosa Parks Elementary, Presidio Middle, Washington High)
We’re trying to get kids out of their comfort zone and have some fun while staying safe.
Andre Higginbotham and Nicole Warner
Teacher and Program Liaison for the Beginning Riders and Aspiring Professionals Program, June Jordan School for Equity
Learning both Spanish and English helped me understand who I am as a Hispanic person born in the US, and it helped me grow more as a student.
Daniel Alvarez Deleon
Class of 2023 and State Seal of Biliteracy Earner, John O’Connell High School
I help students teach each other about taking care of themselves and their wellness.
Teacher on Special Assignment, Elementary Health Education, Student and Family Services Division
I grew up in the Mission and with the James Lick community, and there’s a big sense of pride that I’m able to give back to the community that helped raise me.