Q&A with Jennifer Uken '14, Sonoma County Teacher of the Year
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By Carol Jean Tomoguchi-Perez
June 12, 2023 Jennifer Uken '14, a bilingual first-grade teacher at Albert F. Biella Elementary School, has earned the title of Sonoma County’s Teacher of the Year for 2023-24. Describing her younger self as having a "naughty streak as a student," Uken’s teaching approach draws from her own challenging school experiences, and makes her uniquely attuned to her students' needs. Turning down an opportunity to teach English in Cartegena, Colombia, Uken instead applied for the Master of Arts in Teaching + Credential (MAT) program and began her journey towards teaching exclusively in Title 1 schools, where her bilingual background would prove to be an asset. Q: As an alumna of the MAT program, what led you to pursue a teaching credential? A: I originally pursued a teaching credential to be the teacher I needed when I was younger. But my guiding principle has since evolved: I now wish to be the teacher each and every one of my students needs. I think most teachers become teachers because they themselves loved school. I didn’t particularly enjoy school as a child, so I make every effort to be the kind of teacher that makes all my students feel loved, wanted, safe, and successful so they want to come to school. Especially the kiddos with big behaviors – they are often the kiddos that need love the most but they ask for it in the most unloving ways. While I wasn’t a major behavior challenge, I had a naughty streak as a student, and now as a teacher I’m able to anticipate and ameliorate misbehavior with empathy and love. I find immense peace knowing that I am the teacher my students need and the teacher I needed when I was younger. |
Jennifer Uken
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I pursued a Multiple Subject Credential because I knew immediately that I wanted to work with little humans, because they are so cute and still full of wonder about the world. I initially thought dual-immersion education would be the best fit for me and earned my BCLAD, as well as doing my student teaching in dual-immersion classrooms. Ultimately, I realized General Education would be the best fit for me and chose to exclusively work at Title 1 schools where my Spanish proficiency would be a bonus, not an expectation.
Did you have an "aha!" moment while studying for your B.A. in Spanish and double-minoring in Education and Psychology, or did you know you wanted to teach before becoming a college student?
I’ve often thought I fell into teaching, but upon reflection I think there was a healthy dose of fate involved. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life before and during the vast majority of college. All I knew was that I had a profound desire to become fluent in Spanish and that I loved learning about how the human mind and body functioned. I cycled through a variety of professional interests like therapy or criminal psychology, I got my EMT certification and started the prerequisites for nursing, and I’ve always loved writing so I considered journalism. None of them were the right fit for me either due to the environment (I knew I could never have an office job!) or it would be too heartbreaking/traumatic (I’m a Highly Sensitive Person). Late in my junior year as an undergrad, I realized I needed a post-grad plan. I decided teaching English abroad in a Spanish-speaking country would be gainful employment and a great experience while I figured out my next steps in life. I started taking education courses and networking with my Spanish professors. By the end of senior year I’d completed the requirements for the Education minor, and with the help of my Spanish professor I had a job lined up in Cartagena, Colombia.
During one of the last weeks of my senior year there was a seminar entitled, “What to Do with Your Spanish Major.” I figured I still didn’t know what I wanted to do with my Spanish major so it would be helpful to attend. One of the presenters was named Susan Guilfoyle and she spoke about dual-immersion education and showed the most adorable videos of students and teachers talking about becoming bilingual and biliterate. To my surprise, tears spontaneously started streaming down my face and every fiber of my being knew that was what I wanted to do. I wanted to teach adorable little children and I wanted to speak Spanish with them. I approached her after the seminar and she regretfully informed me that the deadline for the credential/MAT program was the next day. I told her that wouldn’t be a problem and that I looked forward to learning from her in the program. I stayed up all night and got all my application materials in on time and promptly canceled my Cartagena plans.
That fateful presentation changed the course of my life and I’ll be forever grateful. Being a teacher is my absolute favorite thing, and as a result I’ve never worked a day in my life. I’m very appreciative of UCI and the School of Humanities and the School of Social Sciences for providing me with invaluable general education and broad skills as an undergraduate. I use all that knowledge daily to inform my practice. I’m eternally grateful to the School of Education for helping me find my path and laying the foundation for the educator I’ve become. No education is a waste and all my academic experiences have culminated to make me the uniquely successful teacher I am today.
What are your goals in the classroom for the next academic year, and beyond?
For the coming school year I hope to become a mentor teacher for student teachers at Sonoma State University. I love the idea of helping a fledgling teacher and doing pedagogy deep dives! Each school year I make a goal to improve an area of my craft to feel like I’m constantly improving and this year I want to focus my efforts on my science instruction. I have many lofty long-term professional goals! I want to pursue a Ph.D. in Education to conduct research and be published in scientific journals. I want to become a National Board Certified Teacher. I want to be a published author and be a guest lecturer. Mostly, I want to share my passion and joy for teaching with the world in hopes that it will be useful for other educators.
Did you have any mentors or sources of inspiration while enrolled in the teacher credentialing program?
Throughout the credential and MAT program at UCI I was lucky to have many mentors and sources of inspiration! I owe Susan Guilfoyle a huge debt of gratitude for finding me when I was lost and showing me that my future was teaching elementary school. She also took such good care of me as a dual-immersion candidate, found me wonderful placements, and helped me study for the challenging BCLAD test. Val Henry ignited my passion for mathematics instruction which was my least favorite subject as a child and amusingly now one of my favorites to teach. JJ (Jeff Johnston) was an incredible lecturer who innovatively structured his classes and reignited my passion for Physical Education and coaching. Due to his influence, I successfully re-established the boys basketball program at the first elementary school I taught at, Meadow View Elementary, and coached two winning seasons. I have also coached Girls on the Run (GOTR) and am a huge proponent of incorporating movement and physical activity into my classroom. My mentor teacher for Kindergarten Sra. Morales at Las Palmas Elementary was incredible. She showed me how fun teaching could be and how to shape behavior in a loving, yet effective way. My mentor teacher for 3rd grade, Sra. Sanchez at OCEAA showed me how to bring history to life and incorporate the arts into my instruction. I was also inspired by a guest speaker during our credential program named Joni Sommer (now Joni Passafiume) who was an entrepreneur that hired and mentored me after my credential program and between my first and second MAT summer sessions. I wasn’t ready to be a full time classroom teacher and opted instead to have what I called, a “hustle year.” I taught a 2 hour morning Kindergarten class (which I consider to be the first class I ever taught), provided private tutoring, and contracted with a company to deliver after school science enrichment courses. All that grinding at the beginning of my career toughened me up, solidified my work ethic, and made the first year I was a full-time classroom teacher feel manageable. In a lot of ways, it felt easier than my “hustle year,” and I felt very successful as a result.
I’d like to extend the deepest gratitude to the UCI School of Education for providing me with an exceptional education, connecting me with amazing professionals, and illuminating the path I was always meant to take. Thank you for helping me become my favorite version of myself: Ms. Uken - Teacher, First Grade.
Did you have an "aha!" moment while studying for your B.A. in Spanish and double-minoring in Education and Psychology, or did you know you wanted to teach before becoming a college student?
I’ve often thought I fell into teaching, but upon reflection I think there was a healthy dose of fate involved. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life before and during the vast majority of college. All I knew was that I had a profound desire to become fluent in Spanish and that I loved learning about how the human mind and body functioned. I cycled through a variety of professional interests like therapy or criminal psychology, I got my EMT certification and started the prerequisites for nursing, and I’ve always loved writing so I considered journalism. None of them were the right fit for me either due to the environment (I knew I could never have an office job!) or it would be too heartbreaking/traumatic (I’m a Highly Sensitive Person). Late in my junior year as an undergrad, I realized I needed a post-grad plan. I decided teaching English abroad in a Spanish-speaking country would be gainful employment and a great experience while I figured out my next steps in life. I started taking education courses and networking with my Spanish professors. By the end of senior year I’d completed the requirements for the Education minor, and with the help of my Spanish professor I had a job lined up in Cartagena, Colombia.
During one of the last weeks of my senior year there was a seminar entitled, “What to Do with Your Spanish Major.” I figured I still didn’t know what I wanted to do with my Spanish major so it would be helpful to attend. One of the presenters was named Susan Guilfoyle and she spoke about dual-immersion education and showed the most adorable videos of students and teachers talking about becoming bilingual and biliterate. To my surprise, tears spontaneously started streaming down my face and every fiber of my being knew that was what I wanted to do. I wanted to teach adorable little children and I wanted to speak Spanish with them. I approached her after the seminar and she regretfully informed me that the deadline for the credential/MAT program was the next day. I told her that wouldn’t be a problem and that I looked forward to learning from her in the program. I stayed up all night and got all my application materials in on time and promptly canceled my Cartagena plans.
That fateful presentation changed the course of my life and I’ll be forever grateful. Being a teacher is my absolute favorite thing, and as a result I’ve never worked a day in my life. I’m very appreciative of UCI and the School of Humanities and the School of Social Sciences for providing me with invaluable general education and broad skills as an undergraduate. I use all that knowledge daily to inform my practice. I’m eternally grateful to the School of Education for helping me find my path and laying the foundation for the educator I’ve become. No education is a waste and all my academic experiences have culminated to make me the uniquely successful teacher I am today.
What are your goals in the classroom for the next academic year, and beyond?
For the coming school year I hope to become a mentor teacher for student teachers at Sonoma State University. I love the idea of helping a fledgling teacher and doing pedagogy deep dives! Each school year I make a goal to improve an area of my craft to feel like I’m constantly improving and this year I want to focus my efforts on my science instruction. I have many lofty long-term professional goals! I want to pursue a Ph.D. in Education to conduct research and be published in scientific journals. I want to become a National Board Certified Teacher. I want to be a published author and be a guest lecturer. Mostly, I want to share my passion and joy for teaching with the world in hopes that it will be useful for other educators.
Did you have any mentors or sources of inspiration while enrolled in the teacher credentialing program?
Throughout the credential and MAT program at UCI I was lucky to have many mentors and sources of inspiration! I owe Susan Guilfoyle a huge debt of gratitude for finding me when I was lost and showing me that my future was teaching elementary school. She also took such good care of me as a dual-immersion candidate, found me wonderful placements, and helped me study for the challenging BCLAD test. Val Henry ignited my passion for mathematics instruction which was my least favorite subject as a child and amusingly now one of my favorites to teach. JJ (Jeff Johnston) was an incredible lecturer who innovatively structured his classes and reignited my passion for Physical Education and coaching. Due to his influence, I successfully re-established the boys basketball program at the first elementary school I taught at, Meadow View Elementary, and coached two winning seasons. I have also coached Girls on the Run (GOTR) and am a huge proponent of incorporating movement and physical activity into my classroom. My mentor teacher for Kindergarten Sra. Morales at Las Palmas Elementary was incredible. She showed me how fun teaching could be and how to shape behavior in a loving, yet effective way. My mentor teacher for 3rd grade, Sra. Sanchez at OCEAA showed me how to bring history to life and incorporate the arts into my instruction. I was also inspired by a guest speaker during our credential program named Joni Sommer (now Joni Passafiume) who was an entrepreneur that hired and mentored me after my credential program and between my first and second MAT summer sessions. I wasn’t ready to be a full time classroom teacher and opted instead to have what I called, a “hustle year.” I taught a 2 hour morning Kindergarten class (which I consider to be the first class I ever taught), provided private tutoring, and contracted with a company to deliver after school science enrichment courses. All that grinding at the beginning of my career toughened me up, solidified my work ethic, and made the first year I was a full-time classroom teacher feel manageable. In a lot of ways, it felt easier than my “hustle year,” and I felt very successful as a result.
I’d like to extend the deepest gratitude to the UCI School of Education for providing me with an exceptional education, connecting me with amazing professionals, and illuminating the path I was always meant to take. Thank you for helping me become my favorite version of myself: Ms. Uken - Teacher, First Grade.
