My pursuit of becoming a good educator over the last decade has enabled me to know myself more deeply, which has allowed me to support my students in seeing beauty within themselves. If you welcome it, teaching is a profession that can connect us deeply to our humanity. Because of this, I truly believe teachers are at the heart of educational progress because we know what our students and colleagues need/want from school, so we must advocate for our professional needs and allow ourselves to be innovative, flexible, reflective, and evolve along the way.”
Liz’s Story
Teaching Discipline
Mathematics
Why Mathematics
“I am troubled by the large number of students I teach who have severe math anxiety or low math self-concepts. I worry about the many students who enroll in remedial math classes in college. As a math teacher, I constantly aim to create a supportive learning environment for my students and provide the kinds of experiences that can illustrate the beauty and power of learning mathematics.”
Professional Experience
Liz taught for six years at Mount Pleasant High School in Providence, RI, where she learned how to develop accessible and relevant lessons to engage students with a wide range of academic and social-emotional needs, and collaborate with colleagues to design and implement the school’s first interdisciplinary project under the current administration at the time. During her time in Rhode Island, Liz also earned the Hollyhock Teaching Fellowship through Stanford University’s CSET program with four of her colleagues, where she learned how to build their leadership skills to advocate for more equitable teaching practices and policies within her school. Liz is currently teaching at Walter Payton College Prep High School in Chicago, IL and is a co-sponsor of their Asian American Club.
Volunteer Experience
As an undergraduate math student, Liz volunteered at Metro Achievement Center, a nonprofit organization that serves urban youth, in their after school program.
Hobbies
In her free time, Liz enjoys reconnecting with her Japanese heritage through language and food, training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, running/hot pilates/weight-lifting, being outdoors, exploring new places, spending time with loved ones, reading, watching TV, and watching funny animal videos.
Academic Background
- DePaul University (Bachelor of Science in Pure Mathematics, 2011)
- DePaul University (Master of Science in Pure Mathematics, 2013)
- Northwestern University (Master of Science in Secondary Math Education, 2014)