Math teacher instructs Queen Creek students on more than numbers

The Queen Creek Unified School District is spotlighting math teacher Vanessa Portillo from Queen Creek Junior High School.

Along with teaching math, Portillo also advises student clubs such as the student council.

“My favorite part of my job is watching students grow academically and socially,” Portillo stated in a district press release. “I love when the light bulbs come on, and they are thinking for themselves. They’re not looking for the quick fixes.”

By teaching real skills and giving students time to explore, Portillo helps students reach a deeper understanding of concepts.

“We really explore and dive into math and make it more real-life to them,” she stated in the release. “We want to make sure that we are creating thinkers because they are our future.”

Portillo stated that she chose to join QCUSD “because it has a very family, small-town feel. And I feel that we have a really good sense of community here.”

Portillo credits much of her success to making each student feel seen. As an adviser for the school’s Where Everybody Belongs club, she strives to ensure everyone at QCJHS feels a sense of belonging.

“I try to make sure that our eighth-grade students are helping out the seventh-grade students to feel safe and comfortable coming to school every day,” Portillo stated.

To help seventh-graders transition into middle school, Portillo takes time to recognize each student individually.

“I really like to highlight student birthdays. And then I also like to make sure I’m making those connections and relationships,” she stated in the release. “In my classroom, especially at the junior high level, they’re still learning who they are and what they’re becoming from elementary.”