What is the name of the school where you work?

GATES: Park Hill Elementary

What was your favorite subject growing up?

GATES: I grew up in San Francisco and my favorite subject was Math. Apparently I had an aptitude for it, and in Junior High I was placed in the Advanced Math classrooms.

What clubs and extracurricular activities did you participate in as a student?

GATES: I played softball and volleyball in Junior High, and during that time I was also the Managing Editor of our school newspaper. I also ran for Social Chairman of the school and won! I even got the first live band to play at a school dance.

What influenced you to go into teaching?

GATES: Again, in Junior High, I had a teacher named Mr. Lynch who taught Social Studies. I was fascinated by geography and all the different places on the globe. It was his enthusiasm for the subject and the engagement of the lessons that made me want to travel and see the world. Later, while in college, I was asked to write about a teacher who inspired me and immediately I remembered this engaging teacher.

What is your favorite part of your daily teaching life?

GATES: I absolutely adore seeing my 3rd graders’ faces when they are scurrying into the classroom in the morning. I can have had no sleep, or be in a grumpy mood, but as soon as I see their smiling, happy faces putting their things in their lockers, taking down our classroom chairs and getting ready to learn, it just melts my heart.

How many years have you been teaching?

GATES: I have had my own classroom (4th and then 3rd grades) for 21 years, and I was a Paraprofessional for 2 years before that. Then I went to the Stanley British Teacher Training Program for a year of student teaching. Almost a quarter of a century in total!

In what ways are you active in your school’s community (coaching/clubs/volunteer/work)?

GATES: I have taught an after school enrichment course and math intervention class. I’ve done home visits through DPS for many years. I’m on the Board of our PTSA. I’ve hosted student teachers.

What is something interesting about you that your students would be surprised to learn?

GATES: I was in the music business for 15 years in Los Angeles, San Francisco and in Colorado before becoming a teacher. I went from “wrangling rock stars,” to “wrangling 3rd graders.”

If you could pass along one piece of advice to your students, what would it be?

GATES: Half the battle is just showing up. Show up and try your best.