Mr. Russell Jason Barlaan is one of the new English teachers here at Glendale High School. His classroom is in the 2000 Building, and he has replaced the well-known and beloved Ms. Wendy Alvarado. 

Born and raised in Pasadena, Mr. Barlaan graduated with a Masters in Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts and started his career in the military before furthering his career in education. He feels that if he had to choose another career, it would be as a chef or maybe an actor.    

Mr. Barlaan said he’s always been able to relate to kids, especially those of high school age. But after finishing his time in the military, that was when he knew he wanted to pursue his career in education. 

One of the things that Mr. Barlaan enjoys the most about teaching is getting to individually know his students and connect with them. He started teaching first at Pasadena High School, and later after the Covid-19 pandemic, he started teaching at a Catholic school in Pasadena, before coming to GHS.

Mr. Barlaan attended UC Santa Barbara where he got his bachelor’s degree, and later attended Cal Arts for his Masters. Then, he got his teaching credential at Cal State LA. 

One piece of advice that Mr. Barlaan has for his students is to get the most out of your high school and its resources, and students should take advantage of the good teachers who want to help them. Mr. Barlaan was actually friends with Ms. Alvarado, and he said that when he found out she was going to leave GHS, he decided that this was his chance to start teaching here. This is a reminder to always take advantage of opportunities when they come your way.

We are so lucky to have Mr. Barlaan as one of our English teachers, because he does a great job, both inside and outside of the classroom. With his passion for teaching and connecting with students, Mr. Barlaan is sure to become a valued part of our school community and we’re excited to see what he has to bring in the future!