Episode 16: An Oakland Educator Talks Story

Oakland x Asian x Mom Podcast

We welcome Andrea, a mom we met when all our kids went to preschool together, to speak about growing up in a mixed family that spans generations and places: Hawaii, Japan, Peru and the Bay Area. Andrea, an long time educator of Oakland Unified School District, shares about how her early experiences related to language and immigration shaped her passion for language justice and heart for newcomers. Working in education for 20+ years, Andrea has made an indelible impact on a generation of OUSD students she has taught. She shares some fun teacher stories that speak to her longevity -- stories full of meaningful run-ins with former students that reflect the depth of her impact and care. Andrea drops some pearls of wisdom for young professionals who seek a career in education...wisdom that can really apply to all of us in professions in which we use not only our critical thinking skills but also our emotional energy. Lastly, we also hear about how motherhood shifted her work boundaries and how her daily routine as an Oakland teacher has made Oakland feel like home.