Cabrillo College student Amanda Hampson nominated our March Teacher of the month in the following letter:

I want to nominate my teacher Ashley Gipson. Ashley Gibson is a teacher at Cabrillo College and teaches several classes for the accelerated medical assisting program. She’s made this difficult time more manageable with her patience, understanding, and willingness to listen to any problems. She makes understanding the class material easier and explains everything in a way everyone can understand. When I was struggling with my mental health, she got me the resources I needed to get help, and because of that, I’m able to continue my path to the career I want more than anything. I feel like she cares for her students, and it’s not just a paycheck. It’s hard to put into words all the ways she’s helped us, and she deserves this more than any other teacher I’ve known. Thank you for the opportunity to show my appreciation for this fantastic teacher.

We met up with Ashley at Cabrillo College and chatted about her experience teaching. She started working in the field and had the opportunity to become an instructor through the Red Cross; in 2016, she began teaching at Cabrillo. Ashley says, “My favorite part about teaching in this program is seeing the students grow and evolve, not only as a student but as a person. It is amazing to be part of that process.”

Thank you, Ashley, for making a difference in your students’ lives.

Teacher of the Month is a monthly feature in Growing Up in Santa Cruz. We honor local teachers based on your nominations. Send your nominations to [email protected]