This week, we’re showing our CPSD pride by giving a #SuperSchoolShoutout to Harrison Preparatory School (HP) sixth and seventh grade language and literature teacher Jay Haywood and senior Angela Saldana.

Jay has worked at HP for 10 years. Up until three years ago, he worked as the chief custodian for both HP and Four Heroes Elementary School. “I became a custodial worker here out of necessity to take care of my family, but I really loved the job and relationships I made in that role,” he said. 

Teaching was something Jay wanted to do since he was 12 years old. With the encouragement of Assistant Superintendent Kevin Rupprecht, who was the HP principal at the time, and many supportive HP educators, Jay was encouraged to go back to school and get his master’s degree. 

“I feel like I have a really unique connection with the students here because they saw me in another role and saw how, with hard work, I was able to get an education that allowed me to have the job I’ve dreamed about,” Jay said. “When I tell them that learning something will help them down the line, they believe me.”

Jay is now living his dream, teaching students about the power of reading. “I love teaching middle school kids and introducing them to new stories,” he said. “Because they grew up with so much technology, it’s important to encourage them to take a break from social media, turn off the video games for a bit and read a good book.” 

Above all, Jay is proud to instill character in his students and believes the key to success is living with integrity. “Through the stories we read, these students learn empathy,” he said. “Even if my students don’t want to become teachers, authors or journalists, they will leave my classroom knowing how to respect others and be considerate members of their community.”

Angela has been a Puma since sixth grade and is proud of herself for committing to the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum at HP, even when it was challenging. “Because of IB, I feel like I’m ready for college and prepared to learn a lot,” she said.

Above all, Angela can tell that her English language arts skills have improved and that she is more confident in subjects she finds difficult, like writing or history, because of the structure of IB curriculum. “At other schools, you may write an essay on one topic and be done,” she said. “Here, you have to write an essay about one thing to make an essay for another class that will all tie into a different project with the same subject, so it’s all connected.”

Outside of the classroom, Angela has always loved playing soccer. “I learned so much from soccer, especially playing with all kinds of skill levels and ages in high school,” she said. “I play midfield, and it really hit me that my senior game was my last time on the field with this team.”

Angela is excited for next year. She will be attending Western Oregon University and received a scholarship to play soccer. “I’m excited because it’s going to be new everything,” she said. “It was a difficult process talking with coaches from different schools, but I feel like the school I chose will be a good fit.”

Angela has not yet chosen her major, but psychology, criminology and kinesiology are all subjects she hopes to study at university. Angela’s ultimate goal is to become a professional soccer player, and she has her eyes set on playing for Spain or the U.S. Women’s National team. 

Go Pumas!