This school year, Lexis Rivera has taken on the role as a freshman and senior English teacher at Radford. While pursuing a major in secondary education at University of Hawaii West O’ahu, she is using this opportunity to obtain her professional student teaching license. As a person who was born and raised in the Aliamanu community, Rivera wants nothing more than to give back. Her values as a teacher reflect the same values at Radford: discipline, respect, and responsibility.
As a Radford graduate of 2017, she has been serving the Ram community for six years. She was originally a member of the College and Career Resource Center, helping students pave the way for their future in a higher education. Before college, she never knew that she wanted to be a teacher, but she knew she wanted to be a leader. Now, she is involved in daily student development rather than just big milestones.
“…The reason why I chose to do teaching…” is because I wanted to be a part of the student’s growth every day,” Ms. Rivera said.
Now an active figure in daily student life, she seeks to introduce a sense of uniqueness in her classroom. With the understanding that students may be at different levels of learning, she created a goal that is achievable for all: to emphasize growth and reflection among young minds. She believes that memorizing information and answers shouldn’t be the only basis that enables students to receive an “A” grade. This attitude towards a growth mindset creates an empowering environment for a variety of learners.
Ms. Rivera states, “If you have your goals laid out in this class and you do well in them and you even grow more than you did yesterday, then that is how you can do well in my class.”
When visiting Rivera’s room in 242, one may notice a cozy decorated space towards the back. Over this area reads “Rivera Roast”. This sanctuary’s café style nature contributes to independent reading time held on Mondays in class. Even at their desks, students can enjoy the atmosphere that the Rivera Roast brings to the room. The class attraction is an entertaining way for learners to enhance their reading interest with the help of a vibrant, cozy setting.
Ms. Rivera explained “… I called it the Rivera Roast because it’s a nice play on the letter R, which is my name…”
She has made countless efforts to serve her Alma Mater during her time as a student, CCRC assistant, and now a teacher.