Read about Mr. Amaya and how and why he became a teacher and came to Neuwirth, what we should know about him, and reading about his experience as a teacher for Neuwirth.

I’m sure most of you know Mr. Amaya, he’s a really great teacher. The reason why I think Mr. Amaya is a great teacher is because of his personality, and I assume that’s also why you think he’s a great teacher. He’s someone that anyone at Neuwirth can have a good conversation with. He’s a teacher who’s there to help you and someone who wants you to succeed. But we don’t know how and why he became the teacher we know him for today. So for this article, I asked him four questions about himself that I thought were important to help you know about how and why he came to Neuwirth and is the teacher we know him as today.

What made you want to become a teacher?

For me, becoming a teacher just kind of happened. It wasn't something that was in my plan; however, I have found it to be incredibly meaningful. This experience has taught me many lessons and has further developed me as an educator who serves from a critical social justice framework. Over time, I’ve come to see teaching as a form of activism, an opportunity to challenge dominant narratives, amplify student voices, and build liberatory spaces where students feel seen, heard, and valued.

Why did you choose Neuwirth?

Life sometimes just puts places in your path that reflect your values, and Neuwirth has been one of those places. What drew me in and continues to ground me here is the community’s deep, intentional commitment to people first. The culture of this school doesn’t just center on academic success; it centers on humanity. As an educator who works from a critical social justice framework, I was immediately drawn to Neuwirth’s emphasis on wellness, empathy, and excellence, not as isolated goals but as interconnected practices. I’ve seen firsthand how this school creates space for students to feel seen, heard, and valued, while also challenging them to grow into compassionate, self-aware, and resilient individuals. To be part of a community that celebrates identity, cultivates meaningful relationships, and believes in continuous growth, not just for students but for educators too, has been an incredible privilege. Neuwirth feels like a space where I can teach with integrity and love while continuing to grow alongside my students and colleagues.

What is something you think students should know about you?

Through my pedagogical lens, I work to create a classroom ecology that values vulnerability. I believe vulnerability is foundational to authentic learning and connection, which is why I model it first. There isn’t much that students don’t know about me, because I see teaching as a relational practice, one built on mutual trust. Of course, with vulnerability comes the reality that people will interpret what I share in different ways. That’s something outside of my control, but it challenges me to be more intentional about how and why I share.

What I hope students come to understand is that everything I do, whether it’s the content I teach, the stories I tell, or the way I hold space, is rooted in love, as defined by bell hooks: “a combination of care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect, and trust.” My belief in their brilliance isn’t passive or abstract; it’s an everyday practice grounded in that love. It’s what guides how I show up, how I listen, how I respond, and how I build a space where they can show up as their full, authentic selves.”

What is it like being a teacher?

Being a teacher is quite a challenging and rewarding profession. It requires a high level of creativity and innovation to be an effective teacher. From classroom management to creating data-driven responses, teaching is about being able to meet your students where they are and inspire them to go beyond what they believed was imaginable for themselves. In the words of ancestor, bell hooks, "I knew that I wanted to be a teacher who would help students become self-directed learners.” Teaching is not just about content delivery; it's about co-creating knowledge, building relationships, and holding space for transformation, both for students and for ourselves.”

So that is how and why Mr. Amaya became the teacher we all know him as today, as well as knowing what it’s like for him being a teacher, and what we should know about him, even though his answers are long, his answers tell you exactly what he wants you to know about himself, maybe now after reading this you will have a new perspective on Mr. Amaya.