The Link Crew program at Portola High has helped freshmen make easy transitions with the help of their peers since its establishment in 2019. This year, math teacher Jessica Torres and Spanish teacher Emily Czaja step into the role of Link Crew Advisors, joining drama teacher Samantha Sanford.
Bringing her passion for mentoring and student success, Czaja hopes to further energize the program with her enthusiasm and drive.
“I hope to bring tons of energy,” Czaja said. “I love public speaking, so I can’t wait to see everyone. All of us Link Crew advisors have different kinds of strengths and areas where we excel, so we’ll all balance out and help. A ton of energy, positive attitude coming in fresh.”
As for Torres, her previous experience with the Fresh Start club, as well as her highschool experiences, drove her to the decision.
“I was actually a part of Link Crew when I was in highschool, as a link leader, and so when the opportunity came about, I was just really interested,” Torres said. “I’ve also done PHS Fresh Start, which is a smaller version of Link Crew, which helps incoming freshmen that need a little more help with the transition. I did that the past two years, which I really loved, and so this is really exciting for me to be able to do this at a larger scale.”
Visual arts teacher and previous advisor Kearci Thompson expressed her excitement for the new teachers joining the team, eager to see the new ideas and perspectives they have coming to the program.
“I think both of them are going to be amazing,” Thompson said. “They’re both so kind and warm-hearted, which is something that you need as a Link Crew advisor, because that’s something we want demonstrated to our students. I think that after six years of me doing it, it can sometimes be harder to think of things in new ways, or think creatively about problems, so I’m super excited to see what they bring to the program with fresh eyes, fresh experiences and so much energy to give.”
Excited to make an impact, Czaja mentioned the benefits of the program itself, and the advantages of having a strong support system while navigating new territory.
“It’s really beneficial because it’s so intimidating coming into a new school, feeling like you’re bottom of the rung as a freshman,” Czaja said. “Having that initial support and that welcome, that kind of knowledge and comfort that you have people who are looking out for you is so critical to the community here.”
Czaja is not the only one with this idea, as Torres shared a similar perspective on the importance of Link Crew in fostering valuable teacher-student connections, as they hope to bring new ideas and are excited to interact with the students.
“As a math teacher, it’s hard to build relationships sometimes, because students just automatically don’t like the subject, so I think it’ll make all of our time a little more enjoyable too, to have [Link Crew] on the side,” Torres said. “I’m excited to see all the things that bloom from the program.”
