LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — It is no secret that the Los Alamitos Unified School District often hires its past alumni for teaching, coaching, and administrative positions. Some teachers taught other teachers when they were in school. Teachers walked through these halls in the same way current students do.
Teachers who have attended school here are Ms. Russell, Mr. Anderson and Mr. Awad, with many more to follow in the future.
Ms. Russell (English teacher)
Q: What is the difference between when you were here as a student to now?
“I could not check my grades online, we did not have Google Classroom, we had a strict dress code, and we had more homework.”
Q: What is the same?
“Campus culture feels the same: kids are very involved on campus.”
Q: What teachers did you have who are still here now or teachers you worked with, and what was it like?
“Mrs. Franzen, Mr. Doran, Ms. Sragovicz, Mrs. Parsons, Mr. Moses and Mrs. Grimshaw. It was so weird to call Mr. Doran or Mrs. Franzen by their first name; it still feels foreign to me! It’s an honor to work alongside my former English teachers. It was nerve-wracking at first because I didn’t want to let them down.”
Q: What clubs or activities did you participate in?
“GWAM, Link Crew, and in my senior year, I was an assemblies commissioner on ASB.”
Q: Favorite and least favorite classes when you were here?
“My favorite class was probably Modern Lit or Thanatology with Mrs. Franzen! My least favorite class was geometry; it was the only class that I had to go to summer school for.”
Mr. Anderson (Social science teacher)
Q: What’s different now from when you were here to now?
“During my time as a teacher, we have seen the biggest changes in the physical campus buildings and the layout. Since the early 2000s, we have added the 3-story STEM building, the 2-story building, the new pool, the new gym, the track and the turf field. The entrance to the school and the front lot is very different, as well as the side lots on the west side and the back student parking lot. We used to have many small hills and grass areas.”
Q: What is the same?
“Mr. Doran and Volcano Burger are still here. Most of all, the love and appreciation for Los Al from the students and the community are still here. We all grew up looking forward to being a Griffin, and it is still true today. We are lucky to see all our community coming together at one high school, and there is no other competition in the area. We are Los Al.”
Q: What teachers did you have who are still here now, or teachers whom you worked beside, whom you also had?
“None of my teachers are still teaching here, but I was honored to work beside some of the amazing teachers I learned from. It was surreal to have the opportunity to both learn from my teachers in class and then, as a young adult, to have them teach me life lessons. It was the honor of my life to be mentored by Dr. Jim Cross and to be trusted to continue the tradition of great teachers here at LAHS. What is more interesting is to see my former students come back to be amazing teachers and administrators themselves. I’ve taught Mrs. March, Mr. Berger, Mr. Caiati, Mrs. Russell, Mr. Snyder and Mr. Weatherman.”
Q: What clubs or activities did you participate in?
“I played varsity football and was a member of the first team to ever win a CIF championship in a men’s sport here on campus in the fall of 1991.”
Q: What were your favorite and least favorite classes when you were here?
“My favorite classes were all history classes like Military History, World History, US History and History and the Future.”
Mr. Awad (Science teacher)
Q: What’s different now from when you were here to now?
“When I was a student here, it was a lot more strict with school policies like the dress code, bathroom usage and electronics. Also, the courses were a lot more demanding and rigorous. There was a lot of homework practice daily, assessments were much lengthier and abundant, and no excuses for missing assignments; you just received zeros. No late work was accepted, and you did not get extended days to turn in assignments because of your absences. Very different back then.”
Q: What’s the same?
“The kids are still very sweet and kind. I’m just saddened by the amount of disconnect and distractions because of their cell phones. It makes students try to socialize alone rather than with others, which is the natural way. We are social creatures who need to connect and relate to others.”
Q: What teachers did you have who are still here now, or teachers you worked with, and what was it like?
“[Mr.] Doran (is the) best teacher ever! I also had Dr. Coriaty, his first year of teaching, my only B (grade).”
Q: What clubs or activities did you participate in?
“Christian Club and Track.”
Q: What were your favorite and least favorite classes when you were here?
“Loved Military History and English with [Mr.] Doran. Did not care for Spanish.”
