Deborah Spector is well known as the only dance teacher here on campus. She has coordinated both Dance 1-2 and 3-4 for many years. This class can be taken for not only physical education credit but also as elective or performing arts credit, as well. While she sets high standards in her class, like most teachers do, what many do not know is just how much she encourages her students to do well in all of their classes.

She not only takes the time out of her class on Thursday to educate her students about college and the A-G requirements. She actually prints out personal copies of the A-G requirements so her students are aware of how many credits they must complete to graduate.

Spector also helps take the pictures displayed on the windows of the front office. Each one features a student who has been accepted to various four-year colleges. She believes more students should go straight to a four year college.

Spector finds other ways to incorporate college, like asking her students on Oct. 1 if they were aware that it was the first day California State Universities were accepting online applications. Because only a few students knew, she also notified them that Nov. 30 is the last day they would be accepting the applications. She has encouraged them to not hesitate, because three years ago the site crashed due to an abundance of last minute applications.

“(Education) doesn’t make you smarter, it opens opportunities,” said Spector.

While most teachers hope their students will succeed, Spector inspires each of her students to be aware of of their options. One might note her as just the dance teacher, but she has proven herself to be much more.