Mrs. Cynthia Oei has been a teacher at Hoover for 34 years, starting in 1991! Before that, she was a substitute at Burbank in 1896. When she had finished her credentials, she started teaching in Hoover.
In this school, she has taught just about every ELD and English class, but her favorites remain ELD Emerging and ninth-grade English classes. When asked why, she answered, “They are my favorites because I love helping students get started and make them believe they can do it, academically and as people. Also, showing them their path forward and strengthening their knowledge.”
From her first year teaching at Hoover, Mrs. Oei remembers that she had five classes, and since building 11 had not been built yet, she had to run from class to class on campus to make it on time. Regarding something new at Hoover that she likes, she stated that the idea of improved security, such as installing cameras and hiring more security guards, is great, because now, when students see them, they are less likely to risk getting caught doing bad things.
When she was asked about her favorite things here, she said, “I love Hoover, it is such a beautiful school with so much nature all around!” She also mentioned, “I have been the curricular lead for ninth grade for many years, and I have loved doing that, being part of the team, hosting them in my room, and developing relationships on a closer level.
About retirement:
“It was hard to make this decision. I love teaching and did not want to quit, but with age, you get more tired.” Mrs. Oei said. She also says, “Teaching is more than a full-time job, and I wanted more time with my family and hobbies at home.”
Mrs. Oei states she wants to continue being an educator, a tutor, but she also wants room in her life for exploring her hobbies, for example, her writing career. “I am a writer, and it was so hard to find time to be that because you need peace and time to do that. I wanted time for my crafts, cooking, as well as simply playing with my dogs.” She has published poetry before, but has not had the time to do that lately.
When asked if she will continue working for GUSD, she says, “I have been talking with the district about coming and doing tutoring in middle schools and maybe testing ELPAC. She also mentioned that her closest friend/colleague is Mrs. Javidan, and they were talking about getting together and team teaching just for the fun of it. Maybe she will come and do readings with the students with Mrs. Javidan!
Mrs. Oei was also asked what she wishes people at Hoover will remember her by, she said, “I would like them to remember me by my commitment to the whole student, academic student, but also the human being student, and in English class, you are really in touch with that because you are touching the hearts and minds of people from all over history when you read. You are developing your whole humanity as you write.”
She finally added, “It has been amazing that people are coming, saying how they feel about me. I think they have said the loveliest things to me, students also.” She also mentioned how teaching and reading Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare for the last time brought a lot of emotion.
“I don’t know if it is related,” says Mrs. Oei while pointing at her Teacher of the Year for Hoover award, “but it was moving and it meant so much. The whole faculty stood up and applauded when my name was called out.”
Tornado Times also asked some people their views on Mrs. Oei:
Eliana Badalian (’28), a student on campus, says, “Mrs. Oei is a very understanding and caring teacher!”
As mentioned earlier, Mrs. Oei and Mrs. Javidan are good friends, so the Tornado Times staff also interviewed Mrs. Javidan. She says, “I have known Mrs. Oei for the past twenty years I have been at Hoover.” When Mrs. Javidan was asked what she would miss the most, she answered, “I am going to her kindness, wisdom, grace, and friendship. My favorite memories with her were the ones where we planned together for English 9 with Madam Angers. We had our discussions and had a great time together.”
Mrs. Van Ackeren, a teacher at Hoover, said that she hates goodbyes, so she was relieved that she and Mrs. Oei would be teaching summer school in neighboring classrooms, allowing her to avoid saying goodbye just yet.
She says this about Mrs. Oei: “No matter what is going on at the school or how policies in education are changing, Ms. Oei always focuses on students and what they need. She has a genuine passion for English learners, having been one herself, and she understands them in a deeply personal way.” Mrs. Van Ackeren said. She also states, “She’s empathetic and authentic. Our department will not be the same without her.”
Mrs. Oei will be missed!
