Mr. Gabriel Loza

Welcome, El Dorado Eagles! 

 I am Mr. Loza, the 7/8th grade ELA teacher here at El Dorado Elementary. I have been involved in education my whole life, both as a student and as a teacher. This is my third year with El Dorado, the best school on the planet! We have the best students, best teachers, best administrators, and best support staff! El Dorado is not only academically rigorous, but it is a cultural dynamo here in the heart of Stockton. It offers first rate clubs, an engaging after-school program, compelling theatrical productions, state of the art technology, and top tier community outreach. All of this is why we here at El Dorado are so full of awesome sauce!

 The reason I love teaching English is that by reading books, I unleashed my own hidden potential. Once I started reading fantasy and science fiction, my imagination soared! My reading level and vocabulary took off like an eagle, almost immediately my academic achievements also began to fly high. I read purely for entertainment, and it had the awesome side effect of making me a better writer, poet, and student. I no longer felt like I was lost in the wilderness of life -- I became a bird of prey and could see far and wide. It is my hope and ultimate goal that through teaching English, I can inspire students to enjoy reading and writing, and appreciate the craft and artistry that goes into good storytelling, so they too, can take flight and soar like eagles, both in their hearts and in their minds.   

  I also am an avid chess player and enjoy running the El Dorado Chess Club. We have chess tournaments, and several of our proficient players have become mentors to their peers. Some of our chess champions have been accepted by some of the finest specialty high schools Stockton Unified has to offer. I have had students nearly beat me at chess and demonstrate for the entire club the lessons they have learned about respect and good sportsmanship. I am inspired by the competitive spirit and connection my chess club students spark in and among one other. I look forward to continuing this tradition. 

Fun facts: I enjoy talking about food, attending live and watching televised sporting events, occasionally playing new video games, watching movies and documentaries, and keeping up with current events. And most importantly, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.