For the Contra Costa Times
Occupation: Athletic director, tennis coach and English teacher at Freedom High School.
Marital status/Family: Amaro lives in Brentwood with his wife, Jennifer, whom he met playing tennis and married in 1998. The couple have two children Lindsey, 8, and Ashley, 5.
Educational and employment background: Amaro said that he didn't start out his college career with the idea of becoming a teacher.
"I wasn't the best student in high school," he said.
He first attended Diablo Valley College to study business. That same year he opened a deejay business.
After the first year in college, an English teacher at DVC told Amaro he was wasting his time with business and convinced him to change his major to English. At the same time a coach at DVC asked him to join the tennis team. Amaro had played tennis in high school and enjoyed the sport.
After changing his path to English, Amaro then attended Saint Mary's College and later got his master's degree from San Francisco State where he was the youngest person in his class.
His first job was teaching summer school English the year before he received his teaching credential.
"In that class, 70 percent of the students passed at a proficient level," Amaro said.
In May of 1998, while on his honeymoon, Amaro received a call from Freedom High School asking him if he was interested in a position at the school.
"I liked the community feel and Freedom was a new school. Now I love Oakley and the people here," Amaro said.
Amaro was also offered a position as the assistant coach for the girls tennis team during that time.
Proudest civic achievement: "Watching Freedom become the center of pride in this community," Amaro said. "I know that is a biased view. I think Freedom is a safe and nurturing place."
Being a teacher is a large source of pride for Amaro.
"Any graduate from here can go out and change the world. I am lucky to have this job and have a chance to make a difference with these students," he said.
Future Achievement: Amaro is working on his doctoral degree in educational leadership. His doctorate thesis relates to how extracurricular activities affect how students see the world from different perspectives.
He hopes to still teach English and to get the chance to teach a course that will show principals and teachers the importance of athletics in a student's life.
Groups and organizations involved in: Amaro is involved in many organizations related to education and athletics, including The National Federation of High Schools, National Council of English Teachers, Athletic Coaches Association, North Coast Athletic Coaches Association and United States Professional Tennis Association.
Amaro still works with the deejay company he started in college and every year donates his time to provide music for organizations such as the annual barbecue picnic the Sheriff's Office of Contra Costa County holds.
Hobbies: Amaro plays tennis, runs, plays the video game Rock Band with his daughters, deejays occasionally and spends time with his own children, as well as his students.
What was the last book you read: "I wanted to see why all the kids were so interested in 'Twilight,' so I just finished reading 'Eclipse,' " he said.
The "Twilight" series by Stephanie Myers has sparked a sensation among teens, along with three movies. "Eclipse" is the latest in the series.
Favorite movie: "That is a hard one. It is easy to say 'Star Wars,' " he said. "I can still remember seeing it in the movies when I was young."
He also said he really like Disney's "The Lion King."
-- Roni Gehlke
No comments:
Post a Comment