When your mantra is “Teach to Make a Difference,” the outcome is amazing. Dr. Farah (Meadows) Ortega-Choate shares what she is doing this fall to inspire culture with both students and staff while distance learning. Hear her ideas on building relationships early in the semester and the importance of “connection before content.”
Farah is in her twentieth year of teaching in Desert Sands Unified School District at the secondary level and is currently the Activities Director, AVID Coordinator, ASB and Renaissance Teacher, and AVID Teacher at La Quinta Middle STEM Academy.
A little about Farah:
Dr. Farah Ortega-Choate (Meadows) was born, raised, and currently lives in the Coachella Valley. She has four degrees including a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in multicultural education from University of Southern California. She is in her twentieth year of teaching in Desert Sands Unified School District at the secondary level and is currently the Activities Director, AVID Coordinator, ASB and Renaissance Teacher, and AVID Teacher at La Quinta Middle STEM Academy.
In addition to teaching, Farah is the proud mother of two amazing sons, John (22) and Brandon (20). Her older son was tragically killed in a car accident in 2015. Her younger is a sophomore in college and hopes to become a Police Officer. Each morning she wakes up to honor her angel son (John), set an example for her younger son (Brandon), and make an impact in the lives of her students. Farah believes that we have to be careful with what we say to our youth for it will become their inner voice. She hopes that she can inspire and empower youth to find and pursue their purpose in life, become the best versions of themselves, and become change agents who will better this world. She wants her voice/her inspiring words to be louder than any negative voice that will come their way, so the youth will never give up on their dreams and become everything they were meant to be. Farah has truly turned her pain into purpose, and when should could have given up, she decided to give back.