Strong teaching is never accidental. It is developed through intentional coaching, structured support, and a commitment to growing educators from within.
Through Teaching Excellence (TE), YES Prep’s alternative teacher certification program, first-year teachers receive the support they need to step confidently into the classroom while building the skills to grow over time.
As part of our Teaching Excellence Spotlight Series, we are continuing to highlight educators whose experiences reflect what makes the program impactful: real-time coaching, meaningful feedback, and a strong sense of community.
In this installment, we hear from two educators whose journeys reflect the power of support systems in shaping their first year and the confidence that comes from knowing they are not navigating it alone.
Daniela Pisquiy | White Oak Secondary
For Daniela Pisquiy, Teaching Excellence has been defined by both growth and connection in her first year in the classroom.
One of her favorite parts of the experience has been the opportunity to learn from others. “I liked the ‘choice rooms’ where we get to hear from different teachers,” she shared, pointing to the value of hearing a range of perspectives and classroom experiences.
That exposure has translated into growth in her own practice. Daniela says one area she has strengthened is her use of an academic monitoring strategy called PQP, (Praise, Question, Prompt) to help her refine how she approaches feedback and instructional planning.
Coaching has also played a meaningful role in her development. “I loved hearing from my coach KB. She was so awesome and real,” Daniela said. “I loved how firm she was with me, and that made me a better teacher.”
Beyond skill-building, what stands out most is the shared experience. “It feels very unified,” she explained. “It’s a unique experience that we all feel collectively. Of course no one’s experience starts off the same way, but TE has a good foundation everyone can relate to.”
For Daniela, that sense of unity has made her first year not only more manageable, but more meaningful.
Maya Barajas | YES Prep North Central Elementary
For Maya Barajas, Teaching Excellence has been grounded in meaningful support and coaching that meets teachers where they are.
“I was assigned an amazing TE coach who understood and listened, while giving meaningful feedback,” she shared, “a level of support that helped navigate both instruction and the unique demands of my classroom.”
Throughout the year, Maya saw significant growth in how she approached lesson planning. “I’ve grown a lot in the way that I think about my class,” she explained, especially when it comes to understanding student ability levels and building in the right scaffolds to support learning.
That growth was shaped by a coaching relationship that recognized the realities of her classroom. “My coach understood that my self-contained room was still being figured out,” Maya said. “She knew that a lot of the difficulties I faced were not because of my abilities as a teacher, but because of the setup, and she helped me develop a plan that worked for my room and for me.”
Through it all, Maya says Teaching Excellence created space to grow without pressure to be perfect. “I felt supported throughout my journey and like it was okay to not be perfect.”
For Maya, one of the most valuable aspects of the program was the ability to learn while doing. “I love that I was able to be teaching and gaining experience while also going through the certification process,” she shared. “It made it feel more worth it in the end.”
Growing Stronger, Together
Teaching Excellence ensures that first-year teachers are supported, coached, and developed from day one. Through real-time feedback, mentorship, and a collaborative community, teachers are able to grow quickly, ultimately strengthening the experience for students and families across YES Prep.
Stay tuned as we continue highlighting members of this year’s Teaching Excellence cohort and celebrating the educators who are building their practice and impact every day.