Meet Mr. Alexander Na, who is sure to cause a chemical reaction on our campus!

Mr. Na was born in Burbank and has had the adventure of a lifetime, by visiting various East Asian countries, including Korea, and most recently Japan this past summer. His travels don’t stop there—he’s even taken a wonderful journey to the beloved country of Italy.

Before working at Glendale High School, Mr. Na sharpened his teaching skills as a six-year, part-time tutor and as a substitute teacher for nearly two years. You’ll find him engaged in video games and board games, when he’s not igniting flames onto metals.

Mr. Na became a teacher due to his unwavering passion for education and a deep desire to impact his students’ lives. Witnessing his students grow and progress throughout the school year brings him great satisfaction and joy. For Mr. Na, the ability to influence his students positively, and to help them navigate challenges and success, is one of the many reasons he chose this fulfilling career path.

Mr. Na feels that the GHS staff is fantastic, greatly supportive and similar to a family. He has observed a diverse mix among his students, with many being enthusiastic and attentive and some appearing zoned out. However, Mr. Na also sees a good number of students who fall in between, creating a balanced environment that he appreciates.

When it comes to keeping his students engaged, Mr. Na acknowledges that it’s a tough issue. Considering it is his first time presenting himself as an official staff member, he admits that it will be challenging to balance relatability with productivity in his lessons. Nevertheless, he is committed to making an effort and connecting with young people the best he can!

There is a significant issue in public school education, which is too much emphasis placed on the results, rather than on the actual learning progress. Mr. Na would prefer to focus more on information retention, rather than on test results. For him, understanding the main concepts of each subject, and being able to apply them to real-life circumstances, is far greater than relying on academic grades to define student achievement.

All things considered, Mr. Na desires to leave a lasting impact on the people around him. The most important thing for him to be a guiding force, not just for those directly in his class, but also for those who need extra support and commitment from a teacher. Creating a positive community is what shapes his teaching viewpoint.

Let’s all welcome Mr. Na as a valued staff member during this amazing school year! Don’t forget to maintain that curious spark inside you, Nitros!