Photo courtesy of AP Biology and Junior Varsity water Polo Coach Trenton Rubio
A new school year at San Luis Obispo High School means new faces and new teachers. SLOHS students are meeting new teachers and enjoying new classes; one class being Advanced Placement Biology. Expressions set out to interview the new Biology teacher and junior varsity water polo coach, Trenton Rubio.
Expressions: How long have you been teaching?
Biology teacher and junior varsity water polo coach Trenton Rubio: This will be my first full year teaching.
Expressions: What brought on your love for teaching? Did you always know you wanted to be a teacher?
Rubio: Since high school, I have worked with younger people teaching swim lessons, and in college at University of Santa Barbara, California I was an educational guide at the Research Experience and Education Facility (REEF), where I taught about our local coastal ecosystems and hands-on conservation lessons to students ranging from preschool to college level!
Expressions: What made you want to teach biology specifically?
Rubio: Both things mentioned above helped me decide on teaching and as an Aquatic Biology Major (Freshwater and Marine Biology), I was swayed towards Biology because it is literally “The Study of Life.” It is about asking questions and trying to find answers to all things we interact with living and nonliving, which I would argue comes naturally to all people.
Expressions: How long have you been interested in water polo and why did you want to be involved in coaching it at slohs?
Rubio: I have been playing water polo since I was an 8th grader! I was a varsity starter my freshman-senior year in high school and captain my junior and senior year. I helped lead our team to a CIF Championship and Semi Finals. I also played club at one of the highest levels and participated in the olympic development program and was a member of UCSB Division I Men’s Water Polo team. During those years, I had a number of coaches and teachers that were influential in my life in and out of the pool. I credit them for pushing me to achieve as a student and athlete and I wanted to be that mentor for students as well!
Expressions: What are the things you’ve been most excited about for teaching this year at SLOHS? Least excited?
Rubio: I have been most excited about getting to know the school culture from teachers to students, every school is different. SLOHS has a very welcoming culture from both teachers and students and I couldn’t be happier to be here!
Expressions: What makes your teaching style different from past bio teachers? / What are your goals for this school year?
Rubio: Well I can’t speak to past Bio teachers, but I can say that across the country, SLOHS included, teachers are moving away from “what students can memorize” for a state test, towards exploration of real world science. So we explore phenomena going on in the world (COVID-19, climate change, endangered species, etc.) and explore the Biology involved and then create explanations for why they are happening and how they affect our lives. I think I bring a hands-on, low pressure classroom, and a research background (I have done Marine Biology research the last two summers). My goals are creating a space where everyone should feel comfortable sharing and making mistakes because that is where the learning happens!
Expressions: What are your hobbies outside of school?
Rubio: Outside of school I like to do things outdoors, like hiking, surfing, going on bike rides, and occasionally hunting/fishing! I think I enjoy it so much because whether I am hiking on a trail or surfing in the ocean, I see things through the lense of biology. When I see a bird show some new behavior or a trout in a stream I didn’t expect, these experiences always keep me curious and asking “why?” I hope my class brings that connection and curiosity to the world around us.
Make sure to meet Mr. Rubio if you haven’t already, and welcome him to campus for the 2021-2022 school year!
