Dear Parents and 5th Grade Students,

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!  This will be my eighth year as 5th grade homeroom teacher at our wonderful school!  I am also serving as the Religion Coordinator and the Advanced Learner Program Coordinator for the school.

I was born in Havana, Cuba, and grew up in San Gabriel, California.  I attended St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge and USC, where I majored in philosophy and minored in European history.  After working as a paralegal, I earned my J.D. at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.  More recently, I worked in human resources and earned my California Clear Teaching Credential in Social Science and English at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles.

I have taught almost all elementary and high school grades in some capacity for 19 years, most of that in Catholic schools, at the junior high level.  I have a special love for U.S. history, theology and philosophy. In addition, I regularly volunteer to mentor high school students and help at a local summer camp.

My teaching philosophy is to teach slightly above my students’ current level, thereby challenging them to achieve beyond their own initial expectations.  In religion, I am dedicated to character formation and genuine growth in love for Jesus Christ.

What a blessing Holy Family Grade School has been!  I look forward to working closely this school year with its fine administration, faculty, parents and dear students.  Thank you to all in our community for your kind support and prayers.  As always, I can be reached at [email protected].

Sincerely yours,

 

Clarence Clark

Clarence Clark, J.D.

5th Grade Teacher