With school back in session, Arroyo Grande High School welcomes new resource teacher Rileigh Mankin. Mankin is excited to get to know students.
“I moved to the area about a year ago,” Mankin said. “I’m originally from Northern California and had a friend [who] lived here so I moved here and subbed for a year in the district.”
Mankin enjoyed being a substitute teacher, as well as the AGHS campus, which led to her interest in teaching at AGHS. She started teaching as an elementary school teacher, but now teaches Academic Seminar and Math Concepts 2 at the high school. She received her degree in Student and Family Ministry at Corban University in Oregon and earned her Graphic Design degree at Laguna College of Art and Design.
Caitlin King, Mankin’s coworker, is also a new teacher on campus teaching Academic Seminar.
“It’s my and Miss Mankin’s first year [teaching] at the high school. I feel lucky that I’m not the only new person learning something,” King said. “[Mankin] is so friendly, has a great sense of humor, [which are] great skills. So even though she’s new, I feel [as though] I can learn things from her.”
Mankin hopes to further inspire students to succeed in life.
“I hope to give my students the skills they need to be successful as they move forward in life,” Mankin said. “I’ve always been passionate about working with students and helping the next generation [by] motivating them and helping them see the strengths that they have.”
So far, Mankin has participated in school events such as Student and Staff Dodgeball. She gets along with staff as well as students.
“She’s a friendly person that I knew I was going to get along with. We got to play dodgeball together during Kindness Week,” King said. “We’re both willing to get dirty and have fun with students.”
Mankin is passionate about helping students and brings in new ideas to inspire and motivate them.
“I feel like every student deserves an opportunity to learn, and each student should realize they have value even if they may learn in a different way,” Mankin said.
