Joseph Kim

Joseph Kim has a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and communication from UC Santa Barbara and a Master of Science degree in education from Mount St. Mary’s University. He has been affiliated with the LAUSD in several capacities, working as a teaching assistant and student teacher in Central Los Angeles and in the San Fernando Valley, and more recently as an English teacher at San Fernando Middle School.

Though this is his first year teaching for the Magnet program at Cleveland, he has a storied history here. In fact, his passion for discussing the “big ideas,” thinking critically, writing, and teaching in general blossomed at this very school. As a student, the teachers here provided the means he would use to develop as a critical thinker. As a volunteer student teacher, his mentors showed unlimited patience and gave him room to grow as both student and teacher. For Mr. Kim, it was never a question of if he’d ever return to Cleveland, but when.

Now that he’s back, it’s difficult for him not to want to turn every day into a full-blown celebration. Instead, he’ll be channeling that energy into making the high school experience of students as transformative and empowering as his was.