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Can you tell us about yourself? 

"Hi, my name is Jordan Souza. I am a first year teacher at Kelsey Bell Elementary in Northern California. I teach second grade." 

Why did you start a career in education?

"I have always wanted to be a teacher since I was little, I've loved school. It was always a really safe place for me and as an adult I love kids. I love being around them. They make me happy and I think school is important and I think it should be fun and I think I'm good at making it fun." 

If you could have any other job what would it be and why?

"If I had another job, it would be something involving kids, maybe I don't know, preschool teacher or stay at home mom. As long as I'm with kids, I think I could be happy." 

How are kids different now than 30 years ago?

"I think kids today are definitely more proficient at technology. They have grown up with it. My kids were born in like 2012 so they've always had phones and laptops and iPods and half of my kids have AirPods even though they're of low socioeconomic status. I think they are just as fun, just as creative, as long as we give them that outlet." 

How is teaching different now than 30 years ago?

"I think teaching is different because again, so much into technology. When I think a school 30 years ago, I think of overhead projectors and chalkboards and a lot of paper and pencil writing and today we do have some of those things, but it's really important that we teach kids to use technology because most of their jobs will be in the technology sector, so we need to prepare them for that."

What would you tell someone who wants to become a teacher?

"I met someone who said they wanted to be a teacher. I would congratulate them because I think it's an amazing profession, but I would tell them that they have to make sure it's their passion. Otherwise it's just too hard. Either you do the job correctly and you're burnt out or you don't do the job correctly and your students suffer, so you need to make sure you have that passion for it. Otherwise your kids will suffer or you will suffer and that's not good." 

What is one thing you would change to help kids learn better?

"Had one change to help kids learn better. I have so many, I would want to make sure all of their immediate needs are met. Immediate needs are met. I have kids who are cold at night who come to school hungry and that's not good. I would also love some more help in my classroom. I would love an eight or two. That would be fantastic. Just because I'm only one person and it's hard to reach every single student every single day and to make sure no student is falling through the cracks and they all understand their math and their science and their reading, and I would just love a co-teacher maybe. Yeah."