Hey Coyotes! Throughout the month of September, we had the chance to interview a few of the students here at Buena Park High School and it was an insightful experience. We got to hear about the students’ favorite teachers here on campus and why that teacher is their favorite. We noticed that a majority of the students had similarity’s in favorite teachers for the same reason.
Here is what the Students of BPHS had to say;
Freshman Samira Salim says that her favorite teacher is Mr. Vaziritabar (Video Production) because “he’s chill and he gives me good grades.”
Freshman Michelle Romero also says that Mr. Vaziritabar is also her favorite teacher. She goes on to say “He’s delightful and I just love him.”
Sophomore Syeda Bint UI says that Chef Priscilla (Culinary Arts) is her favorite teacher because “she’s just the best and she’s super chill.”
As students here at Buena Park High School we think it is very important to have teachers like the ones named above because not only do they encourage us students to get our work done but they also become great resources for us. They make us feel comfortable, they make an environment where we as students are confident in sharing with their teachers. These teachers also actively work on building bonds with their students.
After hearing about the amazing things that students had to say about Chef Priscilla and Mr. Vaziritabar, we thought; it would be great to ask them a few questions about themselves and their classes. Interviewing them helped us get to know more about them and their interests in teaching here at BPHS. Leslie Ramirez interviewed Chef Priscilla and here’s how it went!
Leslie started off by asking “How long have you been teaching here and what inspired you to do it?”
Chef Priscilla said, “I’ve been teaching for 6 years now and it was just an opportunity given to me, and I never looked back since.”
Leslie then asked her “What’s your favorite part about teaching?”
Chef P answered, “My favorite part is seeing kids grow, seeing them collab together, make delicious food, and find love.”
Finally, Leslie asked, “What do you do to keep your students engaged in the classroom?”
Chef P responded, “I like to stay following the trends going on, stay relevant with them, and I like to just talk to them!”
After hearing Chef Priscilla’s amazing responses and her point of view, we now understand why the students here love her so much. Hearing that she likes to talk to her students is so heartwarming. It is also important because teenagers may feel like there’s nobody there and having that one person say that they’re there can bring comfort! She also gave us lots of insight on what her class is all about, which even made us want to join, and we hope you guys are also interested in taking Culinary Arts!
We then went ahead and interviewed Mr. Vaziritabar and here’s what he had to say;
Leslie asked, “How long have you been teaching here and what inspired you to do it?”
Mr. V said “I’ve been teaching since January 2023 at Buena Park High School, where I lead the video production program. My passion for filmmaking and storytelling inspired me to pursue teaching, as I wanted to create a space where students could explore their creativity and develop practical skills that would serve them in the real world. Teaching allows me to guide and inspire the next generation of creators, and that’s something I’m truly passionate about.”
Leslie then asked “What’s your favorite part about teaching”
Mr. V says, “The most rewarding part of teaching is seeing the transformation in students—not just in terms of their technical skills, but in their confidence and creative thinking. Watching them discover their potential when they connect deeply with their work is incredibly fulfilling.”
Leslie finally asked, “What do you do to make students more engaged in the classroom?”
Mr. V said “To keep students engaged, I focus on aligning assignments with their interests and passions. By tailoring projects to what excites them, I can capture their attention from the start, ensuring they remain invested throughout the process. I implement real-world challenges using a project-based learning approach, assigning roles that mirror industry standards. This fosters a sense of responsibility and commitment in my students. Ultimately, my goal is to create an environment that motivates them to produce meaningful work while developing critical skills for their future.”
Wow! It is truly amazing how a teacher can really enjoy watching their students succeed. Mr. Vaziritabar is so amazing for really wanting the best for his students. His responses really show what a genuine person he is. He also give us lots information about what Video Production is here at BPHS, and his responses make it sound incredible fun and rewarding. We are super excited to have been able to learn a lot about Video Production and we really hope you all take the opportunity to join the program.
Thank you so much Coyotes for tuning in with us on this journey. Also a big thank you to the amazing students that were interviewed for helping us pick out Teachers of the Month! This is only the beginning and we hope you guys stay tuned with all the other amazing things we have coming this school year!
