DirecTrack student Andrea Vargas Mungaray sees teaching as community building

DirecTrack to Teaching student in the mathematics track, Andrea Vargas Mungaray, discusses how community connection and support are the keys to creating growth in the classroom.

What drove you to enroll in the DirecTrack to Teaching program?

I think the pandemic has been really illuminating and has allowed me to see how important community is for me.  DirecTrack appealed to me because of the strong emphasis on community connection, support, and a more exploratory approach to teaching.

What do you hope to accomplish as a teacher?

As a teacher, I hope that I can serve as someone who enriches others’ lives. I want to facilitate a more joyous approach to learning for students and teachers. I don’t want to be someone who just stands at the front of the classroom. I want to learn, grow, and embrace the entire human experience with my students and those in our community.

What has been your experience with the faculty?

In the few months that I’ve been in DirecTrack, I’ve had an awesome experience with the faculty I have interacted with. They’re not just advisors or instructors; they’re mentors. I’m extremely thankful for their role in this journey.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years I’d like to still be learning and experiencing life to the fullest. I can’t tell where I will be or what I will be doing but I’d like to think I’ll be teaching in an urban area and supporting my community in whichever way I can.

What’s been your favorite course so far?

I’m currently taking CI 3901: Exploring the Teaching Profession, which is part of the DTT program, and I’ve really been enjoying it because of the many different future educators, their perspectives, and how varied our conversations can be. Hearing experiences from other educators and engaging with my peers and instructors always leave me thinking about who I am and where I stand as a future educator. It’s very invigorating. Outside of DTT, I took Issues in Urban Education this past Spring with Abigail Rombalski and it was such a good class. It’s also very focused on education but the connections to youth, race, socioeconomic class, language, and family make it a class I think anyone would enjoy.

What strengths do you think you will bring to the classroom?

I’ve had a lot of opportunities to change and adapt throughout my life and I’m hoping to bring that flexibility and resilience into the classroom. Care and compassion are extremely important to me and I want my students to feel as though the classroom is somewhere where they can explore and grow while feeling cared for.

Did you have scholarship support? If so, what did it mean to you?

I do have scholarship support. It means more than I could really express. Scholarship support means I can focus on my studies, immerse myself in my passions, and further develop the skills that will aid me and my future students on our journeys. 

Any other thoughts you want to share about your experience?

I don’t think people are born to do anything, I think we’re just born to be us. That being said, we all have teachers regardless of our paths and those teachers leave lasting impressions through their passions for life and the knowledge they impart. As I continue on my path, I realize how instrumental some of my best teachers were in my life. It drives me to be better for myself and my fellow humans. We’re not just math teachers or English teachers; we’re all fully human and we all model opportunities and experiences and the complexity of life itself.

Learn more about the DirecTrack to Teaching program in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.