STAFF & FACULTY DIRECTORY PROFILE
Ana Torres
Job Title:
Math Teacher
Department:
Mathematics
Email:
Phone: (510) 577-9100
ext.
902
Started at O'Dowd:
2023
Degrees:
BS Business Administration Cal State East Bay, MA Mathematics Education Stanford University
Originally from:
Born in Mexico, raised in Oakland
Why I Teach:
I teach to help students see their capacity to think deeply and critically so that they go into the world feeling confident, courageous, unafraid to make mistakes, and with a voice to share their unique ideas.
Most powerful teaching technique:
Complex instruction is a pedagogical approach that enables students to learn and teachers to teach at a high intellectual level in academically, linguistically, racially, ethnically, and socially heterogeneous classrooms.
Why are the subjects you teach important?:
Math is everywhere and many adults don't see themselves as "math people" because of the way it was taught to them. Math is full of patterns, visuals, critical thinking, different strategies, mistakes, and so much more. Math is not just formulas. Math is fun!
Favorite quotes:
“No one is born smart. No one is born knowing how to read, right? No one is born knowing how to do math, or no one is born knowing how to play the flute. All of that comes with a lot of hard work... it's not about what you know, it's about the effort you put in, the amount of work that you're willing to do to get where you're going.“
- Michelle Obama
Favorite trivia:
Trivia is my weakness :(
Recommended visual media:
anything Netflix
Recommended reads:
Fiction Novels
Hobbies or outside interests:
Painting with acrylics, basketball, swimming, and hikes.