Lorraine Ortega (A-F Counselor)
What is your favorite thing about being a counselor here at Wilson?
“I love the school culture, the kind students and the awesome staff. I talked to other colleagues in the district, and everybody had such positive things to say about Wilson that I wanted to come and check it out.”
When did you realize that you wanted to become a counselor?
“I realized that I wanted to become a counselor when I was a teacher. Growing up, all my friends always wanted to talk to me. I was a peer counselor at Orange Grove Middle School and a guidance aid at my high school. From that, I realized I was counseling a lot of students; so, I decided to get a Master’s in school counseling and make it my full-time job.”
What do you think is your greatest challenge here at Wilson?
“My greatest challenge here at Wilson is learning about the IB program and all the pathways. So many amazing things are happening on campus that it can easily become overwhelming.”
What are your goals in the next 5 years here at Wilson?
“My goals in the next 5 years here at Wilson are to continue to do the best I can, to serve all families and students and really become part of that school culture.”
What are 3 words that describe you and why?
“Determined, hardworking, and loving. If there is an obstacle, I always believe that there is a solution at the end of the day. I am hardworking because it is just naturally in my nature. So it does not matter what gets thrown my way; I need to get it done. I am also loving because I care about people and their well-being.”
Do you find this year more challenging because of COVID?
“Yes, a hundred percent. When you have a school population where half of the school does not know each other and students are all new, it is a huge challenge for all of us who work with students. It also requires us to step up our game and do more than what we typically do.”
What is something you enjoy doing outside of school?
“I love working out every day, traveling and spending time with my 2 beautiful daughters and husband.”
David Bates (Physics)
What are your goals for your first year teaching at Wilson?
“My goals are to give my students a challenge and to make sure they know how to overcome that challenge. By the end of the year, they will look forward to overcoming their next challenge.”
How do you feel about teaching during COVID-19?
“It is a difficult situation, and I am still discovering ways to overcome the challenges that are presented, but I look forward to conquering these obstacles.”
How do you motivate students to learn?
“I try to make the learning experiences hands-on and collaborative. Also, showing ways of how it applies to their everyday life helps.”
What do you think of Wilson so far?
“I think the students are very cooperative and motivated to learn.”
What is your least favorite subject?
“My least favorite subject is Language Arts.”
What do you find the most frustrating about teaching?
“Not having enough time to do as good of a job as I want to and caring about people’s education more than they care about their own.”
How would you describe your teaching style?
“I try to make my class challenging and simultaneously enjoyable.”
Jorge Ramirez (Business)
What are your interests outside of school?
“I love to get into investing, the stock market and real estate after school. I have a couple of rental properties, and I also invest in the stock market outside of business. I love baseball and spending time at the ocean as well.”
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
“ Outside of school, I would like to be a well-established businessman with a big portfolio of investments in stocks. I would also like to teach more classes at a university or community college.”
What do you think of Wilson so far?
I love the Wildcat family. Since the moment I stepped foot on campus, everyone has been so welcoming and I see and can feel that there is a big family here. So, I love how the students are passionate about learning, as well as very respectful. The staff members are also friendly and kind. You can feel that the atmosphere and environment are very motivating and encouraging.”
How would you describe your teaching style?
“My teaching style is hands-on, and I would love to see all of my students embracing my class. For the most part, it is about learning and then applying this in my daily life to become a better business person. So, I like to provide students with information that will make them think and challenge their assumptions. Becoming critical thinkers is something I want for students to develop in my class.”
What are your goals for your first year teaching at Wilson?
“One of my goals is to develop a strong program, and by that, I mean I want students to feel like they are getting something out of the business program. I want them to feel comfortable and safe to come and talk to me about any business-related topic. I want the whole school to know that there is a place for them here if they want to pursue a career in business or if they are just interested in getting their personal finances straight.”
Why did you decide to become a teacher?
I decided to become a teacher because I wanted to impact people’s lives. When I was in college, one of my professors positively impacted my life, and it felt so good that I want to replicate that. I feel that being in front of students daily allows me to do that. I want my students to relate to my story and to know that if I can do it, they can too. ”
What is your favorite sport and why?
“My number 1 favorite sport is baseball. I grew up playing baseball; I played little league, baseball in high school and baseball in college. I follow professional baseball on TV, and I love going to the ballpark to watch baseball games.”
