About your teacher Ms. Hagan

Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year!

This is my seventh year as a member of the Nobel faculty and my 22nd 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. Eight 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, 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.

Three 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!!

Four 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. Outside of Nobel, you may find me taking Rowing classes, or doing weight training. In addition to travel, I love to be a tourist in Los Angeles and learn about our amazing city.