eDragon News reporter Lilly Chang recently sat down with Amanda de Alba, Pennekamp's new PEP teacher.  Let's meet one of our newest PK Dragons and see what she had to say to Lilly:

I had the pleasure of sitting down and spending a few moments chatting with Ms. Amanda de Alba, our new PEP teacher!  Ms. de Alba began teaching at Pennekamp in March of this year as a long term PM kindergarten substitute teacher for Ms. Brown, who left Pennekamp to have a family of her own.  The kids absolutely adored Ms. de Alba, and Ms. de Alba can certainly say the feeling was mutual.  When her PEP  students this year were asked what do they want to know about Ms. de Alba, the number one question was, "How old are you?"  Ms. de Alba’s clever response was, "Older than you and younger than your grandparents!" 

Ms. de Alba was born and raised in the South Bay,  in Torrance, and she resides in Torrance to this day.  She was very athletic all throughout her schooling through college and played volleyball, soccer, softball and basketball.  She obtained her undergraduate degree from Long Beach State and her Masters degree and teaching credential from Loyola Marymount University.  Prior to teaching here at Pennekamp, Ms. de Alba worked for a number of school districts including Redondo Beach, Wiseburn, and Manhattan Beach as a substitute teacher for the past year. When asked for several adjectives that would give us some insight into her personality, Ms. de Alba answered, outgoing, caring, athletic, and fun loving.  I asked Ms. de Alba how her students would describe her.  She said enthusiastic and strict, but still silly at times! 

Ms. de Alba’s family includes her young daughter, Kendall, who is 5 years old.  They do not have any pets.  Ms. de Alba and Kendall love to do all kinds of outdoorsy things together like riding bikes, going the beach, and playing soccer.  Ms. de Alba is very empathetic, loves children, and loves having a career where her schedule matches her daughter’s.  When asked what she loves the most about teaching as a career, she responded that she loves seeing how happy all her students are in the morning and knowing that they love to see her every day!