Hoover’s new English teacher Julianna Salce plans on not only teaching the California Common Core standards, but encouraging her students to think deeply about the world and develop a strong love for learning. 

Recently graduated, this school year will be Salce’s first year as a teacher. 

“I’m feeling so many feelings, I’m grateful, overwhelmed and excited. Really every emotion possible,” she said, when asked how she feels about this huge milestone. 

Going back to high school has been exciting for Salce. Being around students talking about sporting events, and hanging out has transported Salce back to her days as an adolescent. 

“Being back in high school has reminded me of being a teenager,” she says. “But it’s weird, because now I’m not a student anymore, I’m a teacher. It’s like I’m on the other side of it now.”

Having been through her teenage years already, Salce has a lot of knowledge and wisdom she hopes to share with her classes, and any other students she interacts with during the school year. 

She implores all high schoolers to read an illustrated story called “The Boy, The Mole, the Fox, and the Horse.” Though simple, Salce believes the story has a “great message about love and hope.”

When asked about her high school memories, Salce reminisces on reading “To Kill a Mockingbird” with her English class, and she can’t wait to hold similar discussions in her classes. 

But it’s not just Salce who is excited about her classes this year. 

Leona Khachatourian, a freshman in one of Salce’s classes, says that she “is a very kind and understanding teacher, who wants her students to be the best writers they can be.” 

Though it’s only her first year teaching, her students find her to seem very experienced and prepared. 

“I think she’s doing really well, even though it’s her first year teaching on her own,” said Anahit Kazaryan, who is in Salce’s class. “I like the way she teaches because she takes everyone’s learning abilities and cognitive skills into account before planning a lesson or activity. She seems very understanding, and like a teacher you could easily talk to.”

Salce’s goal is to teach her students more than just how to analyze books and write essays. 

Said Salce: “My hope is that I will help my students to feel more empowered to share who they are and inspire them to feel curious about the world around them.”