Dos Pueblos High School’s new English teacher Vanessa Muñoz said she is feeling “lucky” about her DPHS experience.

Muñoz attended San Marcos High School, where one of her teachers “opened [her] eyes” to the potential of becoming a teacher. After high school, Muñoz went on to Santa Barbara City College where she got her associate degree. She then transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Education, and, later, her master’s degree in Education.

“I think English is such a cool subject to teach, but also building those connections with students,” Muñoz said. “That’s what I really found to love.”

Muñoz said she had been interested in helping people since high school. However, she didn’t always see herself becoming a teacher.

“Originally, I wanted to go into dietetics and nutrition, because I have worked with a dietitian most of my teenage years,” Muñoz said. “I have very severe food allergies. I just loved how my dietitian was helping me all the time, but then, I decided I wanted to do … less science-related stuff, and more people-focused.”

Muñoz continued her Sociology and Education path and found herself enjoying the “social aspect” of her sociology courses. She then went on to become a tutor for the Program for Effective Access to College at UCSB.

Muñoz said she loves how welcoming the DPHS community is, and has felt “supported” by other staff members. Muñoz originally thought that teaching needed precise planning, but her experience at DPHS has shown her otherwise.

“I always thought with teaching that you just have to have a plan and everything’s gonna go well,” Muñoz said. “But now, as a teacher, I’ve realized you have to be very flexible, and that if things don’t go the way [you want] for one period, you can adapt and change.”

Outside of teaching, Muñoz finds herself being active through hikes with her friends on local Santa Barbara trails. She also involves herself in the arts by making jewelry and crocheting.

“In the future, I hope to teach different types of English classes as well,” Muñoz said. “I’m very interested in potentially doing Advanced Placement classes in the future, or Mexican-American literature.”

Munoz also hopes to teach different subcultures and Advancement Via Individual Determination, which she volunteered in at UCSB.