Beginning her new career as a biology and chemistry teacher, Mrs. Ashley Bailey set foot on campus. As hundreds of new faces have settled on campus, among one of these was Bailey, a new teacher in the science department.
Bailey was inspired to start teaching science because of her own high school and college experience of struggling with chemistry and getting assistance from her own science teacher, Mr. Simms.
“[Simms] was my biology and botany teacher,” Bailey said. “He incorporated hands-on experience into science, and it was really inspiring.”
Additionally, Bailey was a teacher’s assistant for a welding class in college, which furthered her desire to be in education.
Prior to her experience in teaching, Bailey attended UC Davis for seven years, majoring in agriculture and environmental education and minoring in education. Bailey got her bachelor’s degree in science, agricultural and environmental education in 2019.
Before teaching here. Bailey taught at Rodriguez in Fairfield during the years of the Covid lockdown, then came back to hybrid learning. She then taught agriculture at Vacaville for two years, using the FFA, or Future Farmers of America, to further the progress of her students’ education and build relationships with them.
“I know not every one of them is going to be a chemist or a biologist, but I want them to take problem-solving skills, perseverance, and confidence in themselves to overcome problems,” Bailey said.
Bailey bases her teaching based on mutual respect and understanding with her students. She runs her class by being precise about how she expects students to interact with each other and communicating with students on what not to do in the classroom.
According to Bailey, her first interview here was nerve-wracking. “I didn’t realize, but at the time, I was pregnant, so I had a lot of emotions going. Then, on the way here, I had gotten into a car accident, so I had to deal with that,” Bailey said.
One of her biology students, Luke Gallagher, said his first impressions of her have been positive.
“I thought she did a very good job of introducing herself and making us feel very welcome, and I didn’t even know that she was a new teacher,” Gallagher said, “She makes sure that everybody feels comfortable, she checks in on us, she gives us high fives when we walk in in the morning, and it makes you feel very ready to learn.”
As for the first impressions the school is leaving on her, Bailey said how the amount of school spirit she’s witnessed shocks her and brings her joy, and she looks forward to getting to know the students here.
“On Fridays, it is really awesome everyone wears maroon, and to have such high class participation of the spirit wear,” Bailey said. “I came from a very spirited school as well, but this is more, and I appreciate that, and I love that the students are engaged and can be themselves.”
Overall, Bailey emphasizes that her main goal for her students is for them to learn and grow in her class.
Bailey said, “I want my students to walk away as responsible young adults, especially since they are going to be kicked out into the real world in a couple of years, and I want them to make good choices, even if they are making mistakes, that’s okay.”
