Federal Way Public Academy unfortunately wished farewell to two teachers last year, but this year welcomed two new teachers: Mr. Sagaztidado and Mr. Roberts.
The new Spanish teacher, Mr. Sagastizado, was born on January 23rd and grew up in the small town of San Alejo, El Salvador, located about three and a half hours from the capital, San Salvador.
From a young age—around four or five—he knew he wanted to be a teacher. Although he initially considered a career in horticulture and even studied it, his passion for teaching ultimately won out, leading him to change his major.
At 19, Mr. Sagastizado moved to the United States—a decision he hadn’t planned. He was in his first year of college in Costa Rica when his uncle persuaded him to seize the opportunity and move to America. Now, he appreciates living here and feels the U.S. offers more opportunities than El Salvador. “You know, all the doors that open to do whatever you want to be, and it’s easier to obtain an education here,” he shared.
When he left El Salvador, the country was going through a difficult time, making it unsafe for him to stay. However, he now visits his family there every summer and plans to retire in his homeland.
Our new English teacher, Mr. Roberts, was born on July 6th in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He lived there for just two weeks before his family decided to move due to the two tornadoes that struck during those first weeks of his life. With most of his relatives already living in Oregon, his parents relocated to Portland, where he was raised.
Mr. Roberts first came to Washington to visit the University of Washington, but at his grandmother’s suggestion, he also toured the University of Puget Sound (UPS), where his grandparents had met. After visiting both campuses, he realized UPS was a better fit for his goals and aspirations.
Even before college, Mr. Roberts knew he wanted to be a teacher. As a child, he described himself as an angry kid whom most teachers didn’t know how to handle. However, his fourth-grade teacher was different. “She was the one teacher who sat me down and made me realize that even though I wasn’t good at one thing, I could be great at another,” he recalls. Inspired by her, he decided to become a teacher to help students who might feel as misunderstood as he once did.
Now in his second year of teaching, Mr. Roberts spent his first year at Thomas Jefferson High School before joining FWPA. He was drawn to FWPA because it reminded him of his own high school, but he was also determined to ensure students here didn’t face the same struggles as those he graduated with. “Everybody I know who graduated from my high school ended up either depressed, anxious, or both,” he shared. “When I came here, I wanted to make sure that wasn’t the case.”
Mr. Roberts wants students to know that success isn’t limited to specific paths like Running Start or college. He emphasizes that there’s no shame in pursuing a trade or becoming a mechanic if that’s what makes you happy. “There’s no purpose in something if it doesn’t bring you happiness,” he says.
