Sandra Buso: Reflections on her first year at CVHS

Sandra Buso, the AP Human Geography and World religions and mythology teacher looks back on her first year at CVHS and reflects on a year full of learning – both inside and outside the classroom.

“My first year has been different. The students are a lot more motivated in class for the most part. It’s been really nice working with all of my new colleagues in the Social Studies department, some of the teachers here are the smartest people I’ve ever met – it’s been a lot of fun actually,” she said.

Her role as an AP Human geography teacher was especially unique – given she would be teaching through project based learning.

“I’ve learned how to be a better teacher to GT students. I’ve been doing project based learning with Dr. [Charlotte] Haney… that was super fun. I’ve learned how to teach an entire class of GT students. Normally, I may only have 4 or 5 students in an AP class and now I have 30. It’s a little different,” she explained.

Before coming to CVHS, Buso was a teacher for 4 years at North Houston, Early College in HISD. And before teaching, she was involved in a variety of things.

“… I worked in institutional effectiveness and research at Alvin Community College. Before that, I was getting my master’s degree at the University of Houston Clear Lake, and then, before that, I took a few years off when I had my children. I was also in the United States Navy. I’ve worked as a secretary, I’ve worked as an editor. I’ve kind of done a number of different jobs over the years,” she remembered.

Yet, teaching wasn’t always something she had planned on doing. After she obtained her masters degree and left Alvin Community College – she was seeking out new experiences. Following the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, she was guided by a friend to do something that would impact local communities.

“A friend of mine who works in my local school district, Dickinson ISD, said that they needed substitute teachers to help out after the hurricane in the community, a lot of the teachers houses had been destroyed, and so they needed a lot of substitutes to come in so people could repair their homes clean their yards that kind of thing,” she said.

As soon as she stepped foot into a classroom, and eventually became a long term substitute she knew that this profession was for her.

“By the end of the year, I was like, ‘This is what I was always meant to do’. I just didn’t know it, and I became a certified teacher.”

Her first year at CVHS was a new and exciting challenge – making her appreciate the smaller things in life. 

“I really miss my lunch break. I used to have a lunch break but I don’t seem to have one so much anymore. I know that sounds like a silly answer but rest is very important for a healthy body and mind. I’m going to work harder next year to be mindful of my lunch break,” she said.

Buso has grown to understand the importance of guiding her students in the right direction, especially given the grade level she teaches for.

“I think what freshmen need coming into the new environment is that they need to learn study skills more than anything and they need to learn how to be a highschool student. Whether that’s a comprehensive HS or an early college, or a vanguard magnet like CVHS learning those soft skills that doesn’t change. The freshmen need to learn how to study for Carnegie and how to be successful at Carnegie,” she stated.

Outside of school, she also navigates a busy life juggling college football games, high school football games, recitals – and so much more.

“I’ve got a really big family…If it’s not one thing it’s another,” Buso said.

To her, teaching is sharing her love of history and social studies with other students.

“There are two kinds of social students – there are history nerds and then there’s everybody else. I don’t need to engage history nerds in my subject, but I always like to make everybody else see the value and the interest in social studies,” she said.

If she could impart a piece of advice to incoming CVHS freshman she would make sure they are aware of a few things

“Do your homework, on time. Come to class, every day. One of the things you’re going to probably do for the first time is fail. You’re not going to be the smartest in the class. You might get an F for the first time and that’s okay. It’s okay to not be right all the time, because that would be kind of boring,” she said.