Career Path of a Retired Teacher at Hermosa Beach City School District
After graduating from Stanford University in 1991 with an American Studies degree, a rejected law school applicant's "Teach for America" experience in the Pasadena Unified School District ignited a passion for teaching, leading to a master's degree from UCLA and a 16-year career with the Hermosa Beach City School District. Post-retirement, the individual continued to mentor students through organizations such as "Los Angeles challenge," providing scholarships and college application support.
Career Exploration, Overcoming Challenges, Motivational Stories, Education, Nonprofit
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Karen Maguy
Retired Teacher
Hermosa Beach City School District
Stanford University, 1991
UCLA - Master of Education 1995
Political Science, American Studies
Education
Education
Greek Life Member, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Karen's career path highlights a successful pivot from law to teaching, showcasing adaptability and a passion for education.
2. Her experience with Teach for America demonstrates a commitment to serving diverse communities and gaining valuable hands-on teaching experience.
3. Karen's post-retirement involvement with Los Angeles Challenge highlights her continued dedication to supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds and emphasizes the lasting impact of mentorship and educational opportunities.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
I graduated from Stanford University in 1991, majoring in American Studies. I originally wanted to go into law and attend law school.
Teach for America was in its second year of operation then. I saw a flyer in the career planning and placement center and felt drawn to it. I had applied to two top-tier law schools but didn't get into either.
So, I decided to apply to Teach for America. At the time, it was a two-year commitment to teach in an inner-city or rural setting. I grew up in the Bay Area and was excited to get out of that bubble.
I was placed in Los Angeles. I ended up teaching for three years with the Pasadena Unified School District through Teach for America. I took classes each year to continue my emergency credential.
The Teach for America program definitely changed my outlook on my life path, and I realized I needed to be a teacher. After an extra year with Teach for America, I applied to UCLA's School of Education for my master's and clear credential.
After I got my credential and master's, I found a job with the Hermosa Beach City School District. This was also a public school system in Los Angeles, but very different from the Teach for America program. It was in a very affluent neighborhood in Southern California.
I taught first and second grade there for the next 16 years. I loved teaching and working with children and students from all different backgrounds. I retired when my own daughters were in middle school.
Since then, I've been working on various boards. One of my top activities has been with Los Angeles Challenge, where I mentored high school students from socially and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. We provided scholarships for these children to attend private schools and helped them apply to colleges, following them through their journey and beyond. That's my experience.
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