Introduction
My name is Michelle Uchida and I work at J.C. Crumpton. I have been teaching as an RSP for the past 9 years. I started my career in SFUSD, where I was lucky enough to teach as an RSP K-5 for 8 years and ended as an SDC k-2 teacher. I loved working in San Francisco, but knew deep down that my heart wanted to teach in my hometown, Monterey. My Dad was an educator for 36 years with MPUSD and was a big reason I started teaching. Throughout the years of his career, I have seen the impact he made on the community and I want to do the same. I hope to have a long career with MPUSD, just like my Dad.
Experience
After graduating college, my first job was with MPUSD as a behavior technician. I worked in the KEY program at Walter Colton Middle school for one year, then transferred to Monterey High school. Being able to work at the middle school and high school I attended was an awesome experience and being able to work directly with teachers that taught me. After working at MHS, I was transferred to Olson Elementary and worked with the LEAP program. I enjoyed working with students with autism so much that I decided to switch careers and became an ABA therapist. I loved ABA therapy but wanted to provide more for students and this led to the decision of becoming a Special Education teacher.
Growing Up
My father has been an educator since I was a young child; therefore I spent many hours in his classrooms or offices helping him. One of the most inspiring things I got to see was how much a teacher can impact a child's life. Every time we would go to the grocery store, my Dad would see a past student of his and they would always greet him with excitement. It inspired me to follow my Dad’s career path and become a teacher and a coach!
Why Do I Teach?
When I was a student in school, I struggled with certain subjects. I had teachers who gave up on me and made me feel dumb. This motivated me to become the teacher that would never do that. I wanted to be the teacher who is committed to helping students and does not make them feel lesser. I strive to create a welcoming environment in my classroom where students can make mistakes and learn from them.