Donald Hollins
 

Room: D-3
Ext 5613
I teach the following subjects:

English 11 American Literature
Business Math
Computer Applications
Keyboarding

I grew up the third of four children in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. My parents worked as administrators, and held strong beliefs about each of us being well educated. I was overweight as a kid, and think this has helped me be more protective and compassionate toward students in school who sometimes get the brunt of adolescent meanness. I enjoyed growing up in the seasons, and sometimes miss fall, but love San Diego’s weather and hope to stay in the warmer climates from now on because I enjoy being outside and active.

I graduated from high school with a scholarship in mathematics from the US Air Force ROTC program. I attended Pomona College in Claremont, California. I loved college and was involved in many activities including: rugby, a fraternity, the newspaper, intramural sports, the radio station, weightlifting, big brother/big sister program, model United Nations, as well as the ROTC on campus. I graduated from Pomona College, was commissioned into the Air Force, attended the Department of Defense Information School and was stationed at an F-15 fighter base at Langley AFB, VA as a Public Relations Officer.  After less than three months at the base the Gulf War started and our planes were the first to be sent from the Air Force. I worked as a media liaison for our base in the Gulf War with more than 800 media including Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather, Katie Couric, Wolf Blitzer, and John Chancellor from August until its end in April 1991.  I returned to the base and worked as the managing editor of the base newspaper for the next two years.

I left the Air Force, moved to California and worked in sales for a year before getting a position as director of a halfway house in downtown San Diego. I enjoyed that position very much and started seeing my natural inclination to teach and support others. The funding for the program ran out and I decided to go back to school and get my teaching credential. I attended the pilot group of CSU San Marcos’s first secondary school teacher’s program. It was a fantastic experience due to the great planning and excellent teaching of the staff.  I earned credentials in both Secondary Mathematics as well as English Literature. I am still in contact and friends with several classmates from this program. I learned a lot and felt confident and prepared to start teaching.

I was hired in June of 1996 at Earl Warren Junior High School as a math teacher and loved it from the start. I love working with the kids and challenging them to think and develop their minds and hearts. I enjoy being in front of crowds, and spent two years in an improv comedy group during this time. 

The principal of the Sunset High School hired me after two years at Earl Warren JHS and I have been here since 1998. I love what I do at Sunset. I love being able to teach a variety of topics and to individually address the needs, strengths and weaknesses of our students. The discussions I have with the kids at Sunset have weight and depth. Our interactions are based in basic guiding principles like courage, trustworthiness, character and respect. I see more each day that everyone longs to be inspired and heard. I attempt to do this for each of the students I interact with. In return, I am amazed at the resilience, character and strength I see our students demonstrate. I am often awed by their ability to bounce back and overcome what might otherwise destroy others. It’s an honor to be here and to be trusted to share their journeys into adulthood.

I completed a Masters of Science in Technology in 2001 and a Masters of Arts in Educational Administration, as well as the Administrative State Credential in 2004. These graduate programs enlarged my understanding and view of education, and prepared me to better respond to the needs and changes of education. In the spring of 2006 I was trained as a trainer for Time to Teach, a national program for improving classroom management. I love the opportunities I’ve had teaching teachers how to improve their practices, and really benefit from our discussions and insights.

Today my life is full and beautiful. I love my career, I have loving relationships with my family and friends, and I am healthy in mind, body and spirit. I enjoy many interests including my motorcycles, meditation, physical fitness and nutrition, yoga and laughing with my friends. I love to travel. I have visited more than 20 countries and am always attempting to improve my Spanish on trips abroad. I enjoyed an epic two-month adventure in a 10,000 mile cross country Harley ride that included 22 states, 12 National Parks and innumerable moments of beauty, challenge and gastric adventures. My future plans include being a published author.

List eight things you like best about teaching: 

1. Well, first and foremost, every teacher lives for the Ah-ha moment.
2. Helping students develop critical thinking skills, communication skills, self-discovery, and problem solving through the various courses I teach.
3. Daily opportunity to practice deep listening, compassion and problem solving to help students find solutions for frustration and difficulties.
4. The respect people show me when I tell them about my profession.
5. The friendships and great times I share with so many other teachers in the district.
6. The gratitude and pleasure of parents in their child’s development.
7. The lifelong learning opportunities and travel; the commitment to keep growing.
8. The appreciation it gave me for my parents and how they raised me.

What is one of your greatest professional successes: I feel good about much of the work I do here, but one of my greatest professional successes is the collection of observational essays I have students write in the second semester of English 11. Most of the students who come to Sunset are resilient and powerful. They have endured difficulties many adults do not know how to handle: the death and suicide of family and friends, alcoholism and drug addiction within their family or on a personal level, as well as a host of other challenges. Part of my essay assignment is that they read at least three other student essays. Each essay in this book is so powerful and compelling that they often read more, and in that process begin thinking about how they can start examining their own pain or struggle. We all need to feel inspired and connected. This book of essays speaks to our common nature and invites the reader to examine his or her own situation. Invariably in doing so the reader-turned-writer experiences the healing powers awareness and examination bring to a problem. Their essay then becomes part of the book for the next student.