This year, Arcadia High School (AHS) welcomes several new teachers to their staff. One of the new teachers to the AHS community is Dr. Zachary Sandoval.
With eight years of experience teaching various math and computer science courses at Loyola High School, Dr. Sandoval brings extensive expertise to AHS. He teaches four periods of AP Computer Science Principles and one period of Computer Programming in Java language. The AP Computer Science Principles course offers students a broad introduction to the fundamentals of computing, covering topics such as algorithms, programming, data analysis, and the societal impact of technology. Meanwhile, the Computer Programming in Java course focuses on building students’ programming skills through object-oriented design and problem-solving strategies.
Dr. Sandoval’s journey in education began at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he majored in Mathematics. During his junior year, he received a tutoring job, where he taught weekly sessions of Multiple Variable Calculus to 10 UCLA underclassmen.
“At first, I think I was just excited to write on whiteboards all the time, but eventually I found that there’s a lot more to enjoy about being an educator,” said Dr. Sandoval.
With his enthusiasm for educating, Dr. Sandoval introduces his own unique styles of teaching to AHS.
“Computer science classes are geared towards skill development, so I tend to emphasize lessons and activities that allow students to explore code first and formalize concepts,” said Dr. Sandoval. “By connecting them to that tangible experience afterward, they can have direct interaction with the code, where they can see the results of their work, troubleshoot, and learn through doing. The most important part about learning is the positive effect it has on students’ sense of agency to learn intuitively and their journeys to becoming lifelong learners.”
Dr. Sandoval is always open to trying out new lessons and activities such as code.org, which is a learning platform that allows students to code while designing their own apps.
“It’s the best way to find out how to improve your craft,” said Dr. Sandoval. “They’re not all winners, but you can’t decide that until you’ve given them a try.”
These innovative resources allow his students to grasp a full understanding of the concepts that need to be learned; however, sometimes the comprehension is difficult due to the intense and complicated nature of computer science. Encountering problems like these, Dr. Sandoval will give an explanation and demonstration to ensure the student understands.
In reflecting on the unique challenges of teaching, Dr. Sandoval shared a memorable experience. During the pandemic, when internet connectivity at home became unreliable, he found himself teaching classes from his Jeep in the parking lot of a Starbucks.
This experience highlights the resourcefulness and adaptability that educators, like Dr. Sandoval, have developed in response to unforeseen obstacles, allowing them to continue supporting students’ learning under challenging circumstances.
“I’ve learned to be more flexible and adaptive in my instruction over the years,” said Dr. Sandoval.
