Celebrating AAPI Month with Former Teacher Turned Author-Illustrator
In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Marketing and Communications Manager Angel Chang to share her unique ties to Izzi and the passions that came with it.
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I was fortunate to grow up with a mother who had a deep passion for her role as a Chinese school teacher. Her unwavering dedication to the world of education had a profound influence on my own journey.
My mom teaching Chinese in 1988. She continued to teach for another 35 years before she recently retired.
After graduating with a degree in Communications from UC San Diego, I took a chance to embark on a new adventure by becoming a teacher at our very own Half Moon Bay Head Start in 2008.
My first classroom photo while on a field trip to Farmer John’s pumpkin patch right behind our program site. We’re saying “Half Moon Bay Superstars!”
There I was, an oddly tall Chinese American female about to teach a predominantly Spanish speaking classroom of children with my mediocre high school level Spanish skills. (One of my favorite memories is learning to roll my Spanish r-sound for the first time, because I was always repeating a particular child’s name….R-r-rafael! Now ask me to roll my r’s for 10 seconds!) To my surprise, the families embraced me so lovingly, and I’m forever grateful–muchas gracias! Thank you also to Teacher Claudia Montepeque and Carmen Ramos who were also important parts of my Half Moon Bay classroom experience and being so supportive in my teaching years.
But while having a magical classroom experience, I was young, new to the Bay Area, and still figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. As much as I enjoyed teaching, I couldn't ignore my own restlessness and desire to explore new opportunities. I left my classroom after 2 years with the vision to help create a bigger impact outside my one classroom site.
While struggling to find my place outside Half Moon Bay, I found myself deeply missing my former students. It was then that my passion for early education grew deeper, because I missed the sense of purpose and impact that came with teaching. I longed to find a way to make a difference in the lives of young children again.
My first children’s book, A Superstar Pencil, is inspired by the Parable of the Pencil and dedicated to my former students.
To cope, I discovered self-publishing! In 2013, I wrote and illustrated my first children’s book, A Superstar Pencil, while thinking of my former students. I began to realize that children's books were the perfect medium for me to express my creativity and share my love of early education.
Eight years after my time at Half Moon Bay Head Start, I was given a chance to lead marketing for the very same organization where my passion for early education had started, Izzi Early Education (formerly IHSD Inc.). I've come full circle, returning to the organization that gave me my start in teaching and now being able to lead marketing to help raise awareness for our work and mission.
Meanwhile, I continued to use children’s books as a medium for my creative therapy. ABC: Adobo, Boba, Chai is my most recent book project born out of pandemic times from a successful Kickstarter campaign. The book is a celebration of Asian American values and culture, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share this with the Izzi where the inspiration for my children’s book projects first began. I believe that children's books are just as important to shaping culture as TV, movies, and music, because representation matters across all mediums!
Another full circle moment seeing my book being read in one of our Head Start classrooms. (Photo from Izzi at Lakewood)
Overall, my journey from preschool teacher to children's book “mauthor” (mother + author) has been full of twists and turns. But through it all, I have discovered a deep love for both early education and storytelling. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to share my passions with you, and Happy Asian American Pacific-Islander Heritage Month! Cheers!
