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Rayda Santrach grew up with the dream to be an educator as her mother and father, both educators, were awesome role models. After teaching for two years, Rayda decided to join the United States Air Force where she served for eight years; again, following in the footsteps of both her mother and father.
Soon after, Rayda and her family relocated several times as her husband as he moved up the management ladder in the banking world. With every move, she would take a job as a high school math or science teacher causing her teaching experience to earned in many different environments.
Rayda's students know that she cares about them and provides them with engaging, interesting, and fun (technology-infused) lessons. She takes advantage of numerous professional development opportunities available to teachers--including NASA opportunities. This past summer I was one of ten teachers from across the nation to participate in a NASA Airborne Research Mission for Educators. Rayda's students always benefit from her adventures. Other teachers benefit as well since she offers professional mini-workshops at lunchtime. For the past three years, Rayda has worked for the juvenile division of the California Department of Corrections (CDCR) teaching algebra 1, geometry, chemistry, biology, Earth Science, exit exam preparation, character education, technology, and GED preparation to incarcerated young men (18-21 years old and all gang members). After being chosen as the Title I, Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) math teacher, she developed the best technology-infused ESEA program in the Department of Juvenile Justice schools. Her daily "Technology Tidbits" emails are distributed to all juvenile justice schools. Currently, she is the mentor teacher at Lyle Egan High School.
Rayda's hobbies include: HAM radio (KD6VKY), astronomy, building telescopes, music (flute, guitar, harmonica, and banjo), aviation, model rocketry, and languages. She lived in Turkey for fifteen months, explored Egypt for a month, and taught chemistry in Russia. She enjoys learning to get around in a new language. As a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Rayda also speaks some Choctaw. She enjoy learning and share her enthusiasm for learning with her students.
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