Teacher of the month: Jordan Henry

Jordan Herny (Photo: Sloane Crocker, The Puma Prensa)

By Sloane Crocker, Sports editor

You’ve probably spotted Maria Carrillo English teacher Jordan Henry around campus, perhaps sporting a pair of Nike Dunks or Air Jordans, and you’ve probably heard of her too- she’s undoubtedly one of the favorite teachers on campus. But students aren’t the only ones with this opinion, as Henry was recently awarded the MCHS teacher of the month award for March 2024.

So just what does this honor mean? Well, Henry stated that, in the district, each school chooses one teacher of the month, one classified staff of the month, and one student of the month. And though you may think this award is handed out every month, it is, in truth, an annual event, making the honor that much more special. 

Principal Monique Luke was the one to choose Henry for the award, then presented it to Henry and the other two honorees in city hall with the Board of Education in attendance. Henry said that Luke also read “really nice speeches” to each of the honorees, and felt that, though she didn’t know she received the award until recently, she’s been “working really hard” and so it “felt really good to be noticed.” As Henry said, she has an “amazing department and amazing colleagues,” with Carrillo being a “very impressive school,” and it “feels so good to have adults who maybe don’t get to be in the classroom all the time recognize the work that goes into the classroom.”

As for Henry’s journey to becoming such a respected educator, it began in a somewhat unconventional way, as she wasn’t accepted to several PhD programs that she was hoping to be a part of so instead pivoted and got a masters degree in education. Though she at first “didn’t know” if she wanted to be a teacher, she said that she “walked into Ms. Deakins’ room and the rest is history.” And, the room that she now teaches in was formerly Deakins’ room, and Henry said that Deakins was “everything” to her in terms of “inspiration for teaching.”

Now, Henry says one of her favorite parts about teaching is working with teenagers, as she is “constantly inspired” by her students, knowing that with the future in their hands “we are going to be just fine.” In her classroom she strives for what she calls “connection over compliance,” meaning that she values connection with her students and feels “all students can rise to the occasion.” She values connecting with students before enforcing the rules of the classroom, and feels that she’s found “pretty good success with respecting teenagers.” Clearly, her efforts are paying off, as she has been praised in the Carrillo community for years and has now been officially recognized for her excellence in the classroom.