Paul Ciccoianni
Chaffey Joint Union High School District (Ontario High School)
Ontario, CA USA
"Teachers become better teachers is by practicing new techniques, seeing other teachers, collaborating with a team, and being part of a community."
Career Roadmap
Paul's work combines: Science, Technology, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
St John Bosco High School
Bachelor's Degree
Geography (emphasis in Environmental Analysis)
California State University, Fullerton
Graduate Degree
Teaching (emphasis in Special Education)
Biola University
Certification
Christian Apologetics
Biola University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a High School Geology Teacher:
Bachelor's Degree: Geology/Earth Science, General
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
First, looking back at my father dying, he died of a stroke when I was 9 years old, so it was hard for me to deal with the loss of someone dear to me. Things changed shortly after that.
2.
After that, I worked at a summer camp in college. I worked 9 summers after that, worked with kids, and got to view the amazing scenery that came with that.
3.
Then, I got married and had children. This has changed my life for the better, knowing I have people who can support me the way I supported my family when I was younger.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
A lot of people in our culture are ignorant of what goes on in the public school classroom and the challenges faced on a daily, hourly, almost constant basis by public school teachers. They think of us as either babysitters or as lazy and incompetent.
How I responded:
It depends on who is doing the criticism. If it's someone I do not know very well, I usually just try to either stay quiet and let them share their opinion or I'll probe them with questions to expose their thinking. If, on the other hand, it's someone I know well and have a relationship, I may rebuke them more directly with gentleness and love.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I've overcome this obstacle by working together with my siblings and my mother to pay the bills and take care of the family as a whole. If we didn't do it, who would?
My dad had a stroke just before I entered high school and he died about 6 years later when I was in college. There was a time in my life where my family wasn't sure if he was going survive and if we'd be able to put food on the table.