AP

  • Greetings,

     

    It is an honor to be part of the Spanos Chargers Community.  My name is Angelica Ibarra-Pantoja, and I am currently on my 8th year as an assistant principal.  My journey as an educator began early on during my college years when I became a tutor for the California Mini-Corps.  I had the pleasure of working directly with migrant students and their families throughout the school year and during summer outdoor education.  It was during this time that I decided my career pathway was going to be in the education field.  In 2007, I graduated with a Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) from California State University, Stanislaus.  My teaching career began right after obtaining a Multiple Subject Bilingual Credential through the same university in 2008, teaching Kindergarten.  From 2008 through 2017, I taught kindergarten, 1st grade, 7th/8th VAPA Drama and Dance.  In 2010, I started a Master’s program with Teacher’s College in School Administration.  I graduated in 2012 with a Masters and a credential in School Administration.   As a Vice Principal, I wear many hats; a manager, a scholar, a researcher and, most of all, a seeker of knowledge.  While my job is challenging at times, I have come to enjoy my daily interactions with staff, students and their families.  One of my favorite excerpts is from John Dewey (1925), “Since growth is characteristic of life, education is all one with growing; it has no end beyond itself.  The criterion of the value of school education is the extent to which it creates a desire for continued growth and supplies the means for making the desire effective". In fact, as a school leader, I have the ability to impact many lives on a daily basis.  I do not take that for granted. Therefore, I continue to push myself to grow spiritually and intellectually by embracing the idea of seeking for knowledge.  As I look back and reflect on my journey as a teacher and vice principal, I realize fond memories with staff members, children and their families.  It has been amazing! Thank you, Spano's teachers, families and students for being part of my journey!  Here is to many more years.