While her students call her Mrs. Tag, Sasha Tagayuna-Zimmerman teaches English II and AP Language for her first year here at Jesuit.
Prior to coming to Jesuit, Mrs. Tag has been an English teacher for 11 years now, and taught at Portland Christian and Westside Christian.
Aside from her English teaching, Ms. Tag is interested in getting more involved in the theater department.
“I’m a huge theater nerd,” Tag said, “I was the theater director of the West side as well. So I’ve been directing it for eight years. And love, love theater.”
Ms. Tag is really excited about being here because she believes that Jesuit is a place where she would want to grow more as a teacher.
“I’ve been in specifically private Christian schools my whole career. And I just wanted to try something new. This is a much bigger English Department. And so for me, there’s a lot of opportunities for professional development.”
She also added how the school community is also something she is excited to be a part of after coming from a smaller school.
Finally, Ms. Tag shared a couple pieces of advice that she wanted to share with the students of Jesuit.
“Rest, its rest and work that should be equally revered, but also remember to follow what really sparks that thing inside of you.”
Transcript (edited for clarity)
What classes are you currently teaching right now?
Yeah, great question. I’m teaching three classes for English II and two classes for AP Lang.
How long have you been teaching for? Where have you taught prior to Jesuit?
This is my 11th full time year? So I’ve been teaching mostly in private schools. So I was at Portland Christian, my first three years and then Westside Christian, the last eight years.
What excites you about teaching at Jesuit?
Oh my gosh, so many things. One, I really was looking for a place where I could want to grow as a teacher. I’ve been in specifically private Christian schools, my whole career. And I just wanted to try something new. This is a much bigger department, a much bigger English Department. And so for me, there’s a lot of opportunities for professional development. Also, I just love the community that I keep hearing about at Jesuit. I see it already. I saw it at the football games that I’ve been to the one football game that I saw last week, and also even the pep rally that we had in the beginning of the year. That was amazing to see. And coming from a really small school. It was such a stark contrast to even just the grandeur of the spirit that’s here at Jesuit and I think also just getting to interact with a different demographic of students. That’s what’s really that’s what really excites me.
What is something the community should know about you?
Okay, I think the community of Jesuit should know that I’m a kind teacher, that I’m a teacher that you can come to and that I’m approachable. That I’m a nerd at heart. I’m a huge theater nerd. I was the theater director of the West side as well. So I’ve been directing it for eight years. And love, love theater. I love music, so I was also a band geek. So totally nerd at heart. And so if they’re their students, or even staff members who love to delve in those things, like come chat with me, and we’ll talk. I’d love movies also.
Are you planning to be part of the theater group?
Yeah, so I already went to the auditions. Yesterday, I talked with Elaine and Brandon and I’ve known Elaine for some time now through my interactions with theater across Portland and I volunteered to help out.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Oh, man. Rest. Rest, its rest and work should be equally revered. I think that’s as someone who likes to be on the go all the time and has a lot going on. I think resting is so important. And also that you just really follow what really sparks that thing inside of you. But I think the biggest one is probably rest and work. They should be equally revered. You can add it all up.
