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Hello KLA Families,

 

I am thrilled to be in my 4th year as Math Specialist here at KLA. I have been in education for 29 years with 14 years of experience in school leadership. I began my teaching career as a 6th grade and 8th grade mathematics teacher and then became a middle school mathematics peer coach in New York City Schools. I moved to San Diego in 2004 and have served as a 6th grade math teacher, mathematics resource teacher, mathematics administrator, assistant middle school principal, and middle school principal in the San Diego Unified School District. I have also served as middle and high school principal for the San Diego County Office of Education, and as elementary school principal in the Chula Vista Elementary School District. Family life is essential to me: my wife and I have a wonderful daughter, Anna, who is beginning her sophomore year at the University of Oregon. As parents of a brilliant child with dyslexia, my wife and I are committed to providing all students with a world class education.

My approach to leadership is grounded in the understanding that learning is a social construct, requiring school and classroom communities to be intentionally built through knowing each learner as a unique individual, fostering their voice in their own learning, and making them feel challenged and safe to try on new experiences and take risks. For students to learn in the classroom and grow from children into early adolescents, we must establish clear, caring, and honest student-to-teacher relationships. In addition, we must build classroom communities that are positive and supportive and that challenge each student, while celebrating their individual and communal growth and accomplishments. I look forward to working in partnership with you and our teachers to ensure the success of our students. I also look forward to getting to know each of our students personally, in classrooms, at lunch, and during athletic and social events. Know that I am here to support you, our students, and our community. I look forward to meeting each of you as the year begins.

Be well,
Joel Spengler

Math Specialist