By DONAVYN SANESANONG and GAGE PFIEFER
Tower News

Jessica Culpepper has come back to the place that spawned her love affair for education. Culpepper is in her sixth year of instruction, and she teaches US History and AP History at Manteca High. “I teach because I honestly do love learning,” she said. “I love education.” Despite her passion for education, it wasn’t her first choice when she left the East Yosemite Avenue campus and headed toward the shores of UC Santa Barbara. Culpepper envisioned a career as a nurse practitioner, but fate pulled her back into the classroom. Tower News caught with Jessica Culpepper to discuss her inspirations and the experiences that have shaped her journey.

Tower News: Who are you and what is it you teach here at Manteca High

Mrs. Culpepper: My name is Mrs. Culpepper, I am a US History and a AP History teacher here at Manteca High School.

TN: Why do you teach, and do you enjoy teaching?

JC: I love being in the classroom, and I want to have an impact on the students similar to my past teachers.

TN: What inspired you?

JC: I was a Manteca High Buffalo and I had really incredible teachers and coaches when I was here at school, and so they inspired me to become a teacher myself. What inspires me today are my students and how smart they are and their different abilities.

TN: Is there anything from your past that helped shape your future or career?

JC: I think I am shaped by many experiences in my path. I was a first-generation college student. That motivates me to try and instill the love of learning in my own students in the classroom. Other experiences are from when I was involved as a student at Manteca High, especially at soccer.

TN: Was there a point in life where there was something else you wanted to do besides teaching?

JC: When I graduated high school and went off to college at UC Santa Barbara, I had the intention of being a nurse practitioner. I didn’t always want to become a teacher, it kind of fell into my lap and I’m really happy it did.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Donavyn Sanesanong is a junior Journalism student at Manteca High School. Sanesanong enjoys playing football, basketball, and biking around the neighborhood. He recently moved here with his family from the Milpitas in the Bay Area. Taking pictures and recording videos are what he enjoys the most.

Gage Pfeifer is a junior Journalism student at Manteca High. Pfeifer is very big on video games. Loves to play basketball with friends. Loves to go dirt bike riding with family.