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Can you tell us about yourself? 

"Hi, my name is Amy Owen. I am at Crescent Heights Language Arts, Social Justice Magnet School in Los Angeles, California. I am a second and third grade teacher and uh, I have been there since 2010 but I've been with the district since 2002" 

Why did you start a career in education?

"Why did I start a career in education? I'm in it for the money. Um, my mom was a teacher, my sister was teacher and I think it just kind of was in the water supply" 

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

"If you could have any other job, what would you be and why? I would probably, uh, be like a travel writer and, um, you know, spent a lot of time in Italy and uh, walk around and see beautiful stuff." 

How are kids different now than 30 years ago?

"How are kids different now than 30 years ago? I don't think kids are different. I think the kids are, you know, they're still little goofy mush balls and little munchkins. And, uh, I think they, uh, they have stress, they have real stress and real lives and real problems and just like they always have had in their whole people. So I, uh, you know, so we've got video games now and instead of Elvis or whatever, but I don't know, people, people don't really change." 

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

"What would you tell someone right now about becoming a teacher? Oh, if you want to become a teacher, you will find yourself at two o'clock in the morning making a video to get free headphones for your kids. Cause you've been asking for them at school for three months and you can't get them and you don't want to spend $27. So you're making a video at two o'clock in the morning. That's what I would tell you.

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

"And you would change to help kids learn better. Um, poverty. God, I wish I could. I wish all my kids could live in a palace and have great healthcare, easily accessible and affordable and parents that didn't have to work two or three jobs to support their families and not worry about stupid crap like immigration status or anything like that. Um, I would just wish them to have every resource in the world and be able to see the best museums on the planet and, you know, just dream. The biggest dreams. So hope that's it, bye."