Hard-working, dedicated, and passionate– these words describe the countless teachers at Yorba Linda High School. One teacher who checks all of the above and stands out among several others is Mr. Wong, or as his students call him, Profe. Wong. This is his eighth year at YLHS, and he currently teaches College Prep Spanish 4 and Spanish 2 Honors.
Born in Los Angeles, Profe. grew up speaking Spanish in his household, but Spanish was not the only language that he was passionate about. Unlike his twin brother, he had a huge enthusiasm for languages. During high school, he even took Italian and French classes to keep himself busy while also speaking English and signing up for even more Spanish courses.
Before getting into teaching, Profe. used to work with his father for a successful family business: the McDonald’s franchise. Unfortunately, he did not get along with his father well enough to work with him, and he also wanted to discover a passion of his own. So, he decided to explore other areas to find what interested him.
Profe. Wong graduated high school in New York, where he and his family moved when he was a child. After high school, he returned to California to attend college and receive his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. At Cal State Fullerton University, Profe. began a teacher credential program and finished his Master in Education at the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. This shows how dedicated he was to pursuing a career in education. The fact that he moved to California by himself displays his strong commitment.
Profe. Wong officially began teaching around ten years ago at Savanna High School in Anaheim, where he taught Spanish 2 and 3. Now, Profe. is one of the most loved and appreciated teachers at Yorba Linda High School. When asked if he wants to continue teaching in the future, Profe. Wong (S) replied, “I want to continue teaching because I love watching students use the language and grow. In Southern California, it is very useful to know the language and culture that comes with it.” Finding good teachers in this world is extremely difficult, but Profe. Wong easily shapes all of the young minds at YLHS. He puts a smile on his students’ faces with his wholesome nature. Yorba Linda High School is genuinely grateful to have a teacher who cares about his students like Profe. Wong.
