Chrizia Dela Rosa

Chrizia Dela Rosa is a ninth-grade mathematics teacher and volleyball
coach in the East Side Union High School District, in Santa Clara County.
She is passionate about knowing and including every child, and her own
early fear of having her name mispronounced drives her to ensure that
every student’s name is pronounced correctly. Ms. Dela Rosa explains,
“Today, I ensure that every student’s name is learned correctly by the next
day, inviting corrections to prevent the discomfort I once felt. This
seemingly small act builds a foundation of belonging.”

Ms. Dela Rosa is a first-generation immigrant who learned early on that
education was the key to opportunity, yet she observed that access wasn’t
equally distributed. She didn’t always feel like she belonged. She says,
“This shaped my commitment to kids. I became a teacher because no
child’s future should be limited by zip code.”

The classroom that Ms. Dela Rosa has created reflects the kind of space
she wishes she had growing up. When students walk in, she greets them
with a smile and by name. She fundraises for classroom supplies and
flexible furniture, ensuring that her classroom feels like a second home.
Ms. Dela Rosa teaches math like a language and builds confidence
through vocabulary and collaborative practice, which she feels makes it
more accessible to her students. Students are encouraged to work with
their classmates when they encounter challenges. “Midway, we take a brain
break to reset through mindful awareness, then dive back into differentiated
instruction where students can reference video lectures that I have pre-
made or ask questions as I circulate.”

Ms. Dela Rosa sees teaching as a profession where identity, leadership,
and opportunity meet. She goes on to say that, “Teaching is who I am. As a
first-generation Filipina American, coach, mentor, and culture-builder, I
strive to be the adult I needed when I was young.”