This year, Prep made a lot of changes—to its campus, to its logo and to the people who make up our community. These changes include wonderful new additions to our faculty. Get to know our teachers a bit more with these tidbits–You may not catch ‘em all.
Meet two new teachers brand-new to campus: Ms. Taylor Meyer and Ms. Clara Valenzuela.
First, meet Ms. Taylor Meyer.
Ms. Meyer is a new school counselor, who has worked for twelve years in education. She previously worked in Washington State and only just moved here in July.
She describes her first few visits to Prep with a certain wonder.
“I kind of fell in love with it.” Ms. Meyer found a connection with the respect for high rigor and emphasis on human nature, highlighting “how adolescence is a time of joy and discovery.” Prep’s resources and incredible opportunities for its students stood out. She saw “a family type of community,” and wanted to be a part of it. She was touched on the first day, and, “I teared up because I was just like, ‘This community-minded approach to the school year was really neat.” At previous schools Meyer has worked at, the first days were overwhelming and the approach to the first day was wildly different, so she welcomed Prep’s fun contrast of exciting festivities as a way of kicking off the year.
Outside of work, she enjoys exploring her musical interests, including the acoustic guitar. “I love playing music with my friends. Like, I’m very bad at it, but I love it. I’m talking, like, around a campfire, singing really poorly.”
Lastly, I asked what her favorite candle scent was, and she did not disappoint. “Being from Montana, originally, and having just moved from there, [I love the] cedar tree, Evergreen, or pine tree kind of smell.”
She is located in the office next to Mrs. Vradenburg’s room in the Student Help Center, so if you need someone to consult with, someone to talk to, or simply plan on sneaking up there for a lollipop, she’s there for you.
Next, meet Ms. Clara Valenzuela.
Ms. Valenzuela teaches eighth-grade vocal music, seventh-grade music rotation, and the ensemble. She started teaching when she was a graduate student at Cornell, and most of her teaching experience has been with undergrads in music theory and music history. This is her first time teaching choir, but she is thrilled to be doing so, and the only challenge she can think of is having too much fun!
So far this school year, Prep’s bubbling excitement to do just about anything has really impressed her! She noticed how Prep’s students are very ambitious and speaks highly of their candidness.
Valenzuela hints at some music from Billie Eilish, African American spiritual, and even the Muppets! She plans on more performances than last year, so look out for what’s to come with the Flintridge Prep Singers!
Her favorite genre of music is “churchy, kind of, medieval Renaissance, European music, just because that’s what I grew up singing. But in terms of non choral music, I like pop and indie rock.” Like most of us, she has Chappell Roan and Charli XCX’s “Brat” album on repeat, and she’s eager for a remix album. Besides listening to other artists, she also makes her own music, and describes it as “electronic.”
Outside of her work life, she enjoys watching TV, especially “Degrassi,” a Canadian high school teen drama from the early 2000s.
“Ever heard about how Drake was on a TV show? That’s the show he’s on.” If you have any recommendations, feel free to strike up a conversation with her! Though she works in an office in the music room, she can often be found at the picnic table up the stairs from the dance room.
Lastly, she is on the lookout for singers!
“If anyone wants to sing and isn’t part of a club or activity, I encourage them to still reach out to me.” Ms. Valenzuela has plans to create a club or auditing option for new singers, so keep an eye out for that, and reach out if you’re interested!
Now that you’ve met our excellent teachers, don’t be afraid to say “Hello” to these familiar faces when you run into them on campus.
