The English Education Track at SSU: An Interview with Danielle Cobarruviaz ('26)
Danielle Cobarruviaz shares her thoughts about the English Education track of the English Major.
"This track is less about the traditional rigid understandings of English education and more about using the English classroom as a space to help students better understand themselves and the world around them."
Danielle Cobarruviaz (SSU English '26, Track: English Education) is a graduating English Major who has recently been accepted into the Berkeley Teacher Education Program (BTEP) at UC Berkeley. In this interview, Danielle reflects on her experiences at SSU and shares thoughts about the English Education track of the English Major.
Would you like to tell readers a little bit about yourself?
I am Bay Area-based and have spent the last six years living in Vallejo, CA with my partner of ten years. Currently, I am employed as a paraeducator for bilingual students at Armijo High School in Fairfield, which has given me the opportunity to practice utilizing many of the skills I’ve learned in my undergraduate studies. In my free time, I enjoy reading, listening to music and sewing my own clothes! I have two cuddly cats named Boopy and Ellie.
What are some things that inspired you to study to be a future teacher of English/English Language Arts?
Initially, I considered studying journalism and music before settling on pursuing a career in teaching. Growing up in a large family with five nieces and nephews, I always took on a leadership role and would coordinate activities and performances with them. In some ways, I think I always had a knack for teaching, I just didn’t realize it until I really pondered what I wanted to do with my life. As I grew older, I found that what was most important to me was working with children and finding ways to support them during the most challenging and important times of their lives. My confidence in my decision to teach has been furthered by the experiences I’ve had in my career as a paraeducator, where I’ve been able to make meaningful connections with students from many different backgrounds.
What are some moments in your SSU classes that have been the most memorable?
I’ve had so many wonderful professors, classmates and experiences during my time at SSU. One of the most memorable moments was a lesson on digital literacy in ENGL 491 with Dr. johnson, where we practiced using virtual reality headsets in the SSU Makerspace. It was jarring but fun to experience this new technology alongside my classmates. Another memorable experience I have is in Dr. Bryant’s Shakespeare course (ENGL 339). When reading King Lear, we stomped and whistled to simulate the sounds of the storm that occurs in the play. This was a fun way to make the play more engaging and step outside of the traditional reading that usually happens in a classroom.
"One of the most memorable moments was a lesson on digital literacy in ENGL 491 with Dr. johnson, where we practiced using virtual reality headsets in the SSU Makerspace."
What are your goals in the future?
My ultimate goal is to complete my Master’s and become a credentialed teacher through the Teacher Education Program at UC Berkeley. I also want to improve my Spanish speaking skills so that I may earn my Bilingual Authorization and not only teach mainstream English, but ELD as well. I would like to start teaching at the high school level but I hope to teach at the community college level as well.
What is one aspect of the English Education track in the major that you wish everyone knew more about?
Perhaps the most important thing that I think people should know about the English Education track is that if you choose to pursue it, you will not be spending the entire time examining grammar and doing literary analysis. While those are part of the program, what is most emphasized is the power we have as future educators to transform the classroom into a place where students and educators can transcend the limiting social hierarchies that exist in our society. The English Education track focuses largely on pondering questions like: What role do we, as teachers, have in replicating harmful narratives around efficacy and ability in minority student populations? How can we modernize teaching in a meaningful way that acknowledges the unique socioeconomic realities of our students? This track is less about the traditional rigid understandings of English education and more about using the English classroom as a space to help students better understand themselves and the world around them.