Hi, my name is Gloria Miller, and I teach seventh- and eighth-grade English Language Arts. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in English from UCLA and a single-subject teaching credential from UC Santa Barbara.

My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that mistakes make us better. When students understand that growth often comes through missteps, they become more willing to think critically, read with curiosity, write with sophistication, and engage with empathy.

I am continually inspired when students commit to building a true community of writers in our classroom. Once they recognize that strong writing begins and ends with strong thinking, they become eager to experiment with new techniques, apply grammar for rhetorical impact, and offer thoughtful insight during peer-revision sessions. Along the way, they encounter humbling setbacks—but those moments often lead to the revelations that shape their next piece of writing.

Some of my favorite teaching moments occur when students forget they are “just” reading literature. When they treat characters as real people worthy of understanding and compassion—defending even those with whom they share little in common—I know they are doing more than analyzing a text. They are developing into thoughtful, caring adults.

In my personal life, I am married to a fellow English teacher and am the proud mother of three adult children who chose not to major in English. I enjoy hiking, window shopping, traveling to both new and familiar places, and reading captivating stories with happy endings.