About your teacher Ms. Hagan

Welcome to the 2024-25 School Year!

This is my eighth year as a member of the Nobel faculty and my 23rd year as an educator.

I started out at Nobel as a long-term substitute teacher and student teacher from 2001-2003. Both my daughter and granddaughter graduated from Nobel, so I also understand what it is like to be a Nobel parent. I am credentialed in both Social Studies and English, and I have an administrative credential. We have a great eighth-grade team of US History teachers who work closely together. I have taught at Mt. Gleason Middle School, Kennedy High School, Marshall High School and the Los Angeles High School of the Arts. Ten years ago, I taught tenth grade English in China. Outside of the classroom, I was a Linked Learning instructional coach. A life-long learner, I also received a Labor Studies Certificate. 

I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Diplomacy and World Affairs from Occidental College, and my Master’s Degree in Education from Mt. St. Mary’s University. I love to travel, and have lived, worked and studied in various parts of the world. 

This summer, I taught 11th grade US History at Canoga Park High School and went to NYC and saw Hamilton. My daughter also got married!! Last summer, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) selected me to attend a training about the Delta in Mississippi, including studying about the blues, food, Emmett Till, diverse groups in the Delta -- including Jewish and Chinese people, the extreme poverty that still exists and about enslaved Americans. Last year, I had great trips to Savannah and Seattle.

Four summers ago, I also was awarded an opportunity from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to study at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell for a week where 40 other teachers and I had a great time learning about the Lowell Mills, the Lowell Girls, industrialization, slavery and free African-Americans, immigration, racism, transcendentalism and romanticism. I also spent the summer in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, New York City and upstate New York visiting historical sites and reigniting my passion for US History. I went to the Capitol, Supreme Court, National Archives, the Library of Congress, the national monuments (Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson, the White House, Mt. Vernon (Washington), Monticello (Jefferson) and Montpelier (Madison). I LOVE HISTORY and hope that you will, too, after taking this class!!

Five summers ago, I traveled to South Africa where I volunteered at a preschool and community center, visited schools and consulted with teachers, administrators and students, went on home visits to ill community members, and traveled around the country. I visited Nelson Mandela’s prison on Robben’s Island, and learned more about the apartheid regime. I am currently mentoring a South African college student and helping him through university so that he can continue as a role model and symbol of hope for his community.

At Nobel, I am working on National Board Teacher Certification this year and am the Social Studies/History Department's Chairperson.  In addition to travel, I love to be a tourist in Los Angeles and learn about our amazing city.