LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — The new school year at Los Alamitos High School brings new beginnings, friendships and three new English teachers: Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Tacsik and Miss Cronk. They are excited about joining the Griffin family and meeting their goals for the upcoming year.  

Mr. Gutierrez — English 2, English 3

Q: What makes LAHS different from other schools? 

A: I’d say everybody has goals, or aspirations we want. We work towards it every day. Teachers and students are here to work and move on to the next level. No one is wasting time, that’s for sure.

Q: What piece of advice would you give to other new teachers? 

A: Teachers should leave work at work and learn how to take breaks. Sometimes, teachers want to do a lot and prove themselves, but they should do that during work hours. Teachers don’t have to stay up all night or go to every game. They should get to know the students in class but balance their home life with it.

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration outside of school? 

A: My inspiration is Kobe (Bryant). That mentality where you get better every day inspires me. I try to do that every day, and as a teacher, I help my students strive for that too.

Q: What are you looking forward to this upcoming school year? 

A: This school year, I’m looking forward to getting involved with soccer because  I want to coach and also to experience everything LAHS has to offer. I heard about their amazing programs, and I can’t wait to go watch drama because we’re national champs.

Q: What’s your favorite food?

A: My favorite food is definitely wings.      

Mr. Tacsik — AP English Language 

Q: What makes Los Al different from other schools? 

A: I would say the overall aura is quite positive and uplifting. The maturity and kindness of the students are particularly noteworthy. In getting to know my students, I’ve learned all about their various accomplishments, including work experience, commitments to colleges for sports and packed schedules with things like ASB or choir, which I know take up a lot of time.

Q: What piece of advice would you give to other new teachers? 

A: First, seek out a few close mentors and continually ping them for new ideas and feedback on your ideas. Second, when planning lessons or constructing a curriculum, always consult your intuition and ask yourself, “If I was a student, would I enjoy this lesson?” If the answer you hear is “No,” then you need to rethink your plans.

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration outside of school? 

A: It would have to be my daughter, Alina, who is just over 1.5 years old. She lives so freely — jumping on couches, eating food off the ground without hesitation, screaming with joy, picking up leaves off the ground for reasons beyond my understanding — her total sense of freedom and lack of inhibitions inspires me to not take life too seriously and to enjoy every moment.

Q: What are you looking forward to this upcoming school year?

A: I’m looking forward to attending some of the sporting events along with the choir, dance and theater shows. My wife is a dance and theater teacher, so she is excited to attend some of the great performances here on campus.

Q: What’s your favorite food? 

A: I especially like Korean food. I taught English classes in Korea for two years after finishing up my undergraduate degree. A lot of people in the (U.S.) tend to think of Korean food as just Korean BBQ, but there is a lot more about the cuisine to learn and discover.

Miss Cronk — English 2 and English 2 Honors

Q: What makes Los Al different from other schools? 

This is my first year as a teacher, so I don’t have very much experience at other schools. There is a very big sense of community and culture in the school. I can feel it with the students, parents and even on Back-to-School Night. I love how everyone is connected here and supporting each other.

A: What piece of advice would you give to other new teachers? 

Take it one day at a time. I’m still learning and (am) by no means experienced, but I learned that you should just love your job. Looking too far into the future can be overwhelming, but you should remember why you do this. Teachers want to help people learn and be good humans, so remembering your purpose and the kids you are helping helps me improve and learn as a teacher.

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration outside of school? 

A: My dad has always been my inspiration. He’s always been my best friend and my superhero. He inspires me every day to be the best version of myself. My dad wakes up every day with a positive attitude to be the best version of himself. He likes challenges and thinks it builds character, which I try to embrace through my attitude and decisions.

Q:What are you looking forward to this upcoming school year? 

A: That’s a hard question. I’m so excited to read all the different texts. We’re reading a graphic novel this year, which is different from what I’m used to teaching. Also, I’m excited about Shakespeare. I have some fun activities planned, like translating Shakespearean language into modern-day text messages.

Q: What is your favorite food? 

A:I love any type of Asian food, but my favorite has to be ramen.

Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Tacsik and Miss Cronk look forward to the new school year. Let’s warmly welcome them and show them what it’s like to be a Griffin!