Getting to Know OCSA’s New Teachers

Naomi Herthel

OCSA is not like other schools. 

For those of us who have been here for years, we may be accustomed to it, but it’s easy to forget how intimidating it can be for those just beginning their OCSA journeys. Luckily, new student Gandohm Ghaffari (IA ‘30) had a good initial experience. Her first day was “really fun,” and the process of making friends happened “way faster than [she] expected.” 

Many new students–specifically the seventh graders–take comfort in knowing that they are not alone. All of their seventh-grade classes are filled with fellow new students, with whom they can figure out OCSA: the stairs, the cookies, the 10th street extravaganzas, the Friday schedule. 

For new teachers, the experience is quite different. They often face the challenge of integrating into a well-established system with far fewer colleagues in the same situation. 

This year OCSA welcomed roughly 30 new teachers, interns and coordinators, the vast majority working within various conservatory departments. Here is a brief profile of OCSA’s three new academic teachers. 

Chris Vue is originally from Fresno where he taught high school math for 18 years. For his last three years there, he was also a district coach, supporting math instruction from Kindergarten through 12th grade. After moving to Southern California to be closer to family, Vue “got lucky” and secured a position teaching Integrated Math I and Integrated Math II at OCSA.  

Vue’s first impression of OCSA was not what he expected. “I was blown away by the level of the students,” he explains. “I’m very used to high schools where you’re trying to drag kids into the classroom and get them to turn in work. Here, I feel like everyone’s ready to do the stuff." 

Outside of the classroom, Vue is very passionate about football. He is excited about this year’s season, especially because he participates in Fantasy Football. He also has a 12-year-old daughter, and they’ve been spending time trying to find “places and things to do” in their new area.  

Eugene Mun is a new Integrated III teacher. He has eight years of experience teaching math, first at LA Unified School District and then at Laguna Hills High School. When he first found out about the opportunity to teach at OCSA, he figured there was “no way [he was] going to get this job because [he has] no artistic experience whatsoever.” It was “really cool” for him to find out that he didn’t need any! 

Beyond teaching, Mun loves basketball, video games (especially League of Legends) and collecting cool sneakers. Mun enjoys a unique tradition where he and his best friend from high school visit different stadiums each year to watch the Lakers play. He also has a three-month-old daughter! 

Matt Cowan is here to teach Lit and Comp 1 and AP Lang and Comp. He spent the last four years in the Saddleback Unified School District, serving as a ToSA (Teacher on Special Assignment). In that position, he worked with teachers outside of the classroom to help them improve. Similar to Vue, Cowan was pleasantly surprised by the high caliber of his new students. He says, “Being able to juggle thousands of balls in the air is super impressive. … The respect is crazy. Everyone has been super welcoming with open arms.” 

Since he lives near the beach, Cowan spends his free time boogie boarding, snorkeling, and bodysurfing with his son. He also boasts being a “professional sleeper.” 

It’s now October, and we have mostly figured out the swing of things, but it’s not too late to introduce yourself to these new faces, especially if you, too, are starting out at OCSA. Cowan explained that one goal in meeting people is to “learn the OCSA way,” a conversation to which we can all contribute.