Did you know that at El Paso Leadership Academy (EPLA) East, we teach the future? We do and our expert futurologist is Mrs. Cannon who teaches College and Career Readiness.
At our tuition-free public school, we believe in big, bright futures for our scholars and think you can’t start getting a head start soon enough. Mrs. Cannon is here to introduce career options and what planning and preparation needs to be done to achieve your goals, even in sixth grade. We asked her to share with us a little more about her role at EPLA East.
What do you love about EPLA East?
I love teaching at EPLA East because I get to make a difference in the future of our scholars by getting them enthusiastic about their college and career journeys. I can inspire my scholars to believe in their wildest dreams, while guiding them towards the necessary steps to make it their reality.
What do you teach at EPLA East?
9th Grade College Transition and 6th Grade College & Career Readiness
What do you love most about your role? What is the most challenging?
I love being able to make a difference in the future of our students by getting them enthusiastic about college and careers. I love being able to teach students from an early age about the types of degrees, fields, majors and careers that are available to them. I enjoy presenting them with opportunities to get out in the community and experience these careers in order to get a feel for them. I believe that many students have hesitations about college because of the logistical challenges college entails such as registration, enrollment etc. I have the privilege to break down the concept of college and careers for them into smaller building blocks that empower them to make the decision to attend college and pursue their dream careers.
The best part about teaching is mentoring students about their future, presenting them with opportunities to develop and get to know their strengths. The biggest challenge is helping students overcome their insecurities about their learning abilities.
Are you involved in other activities at EPLA East other than teaching?
Yes, I am also the Graduation Coach- meaning I track credits to make sure our students are ready to graduate- no one slips through the cracks at our small school.
I am also the Dual Credit Program Coordinator- I am in charge of maintaining our school’s dual credit partnership agreement with El Paso Community College and I enroll and register students for classes there. I also assist students with TSIA 2.0 Testing and filling out the ApplyTexas college application.
In your opinion, what makes a great leader? How do you teach leadership?
A great leader is someone who sets the example for everyone else. I teach leadership by introducing scholars to work well in teams and use critical thinking skills that benefit the entire group.
When you’re not engaging with our EPLA East community, what do you like to do?
I enjoy spending quality time with my family. I have two children- a three year-old daughter and a one year old son- we love going to the park and on adventures with my husband who is also studying to be a teacher. I also enjoy watching Netflix series to unwind.
Learn more about Mrs. Cannon and all of our great teachers at our close-knit and engaged tuition-free school by calling us at (915) 298-3901 or fill out an application today and join our forward-thinking middle and high school. Enrolling now for 2022-2023!
About El Paso Leadership Academy East
El Paso Leadership Academy East (EPLA East) is a small, tuition-free public charter school serving middle and high school students in El Paso Texas. We’re reimagining education from the ground up, starting with our intentionally designed building and continuing that with our scholars’ innovative and personalized education. We work with community partnerships in preparing our scholars to become dynamic leaders in the 21st century. We stress the importance of collaboration and accountability in all we do. Join our growing school, Enroll today!
