At New Millennium Secondary School (NMSS), we celebrate our diversity, rally around to support each other, and make sure to have fun as often as possible. These key ingredients have built a foundation of trust and camaraderie which gives our students the feeling of family — dedicated to delivering an excellent education.

We built this school with great intention, a lot of heart, and clear discernment on which superhero teachers to hire. Two of our great teachers have even earned the titles of the ‘Dynamic Duo’! In case the secret hasn’t reached you yet, we decided to reveal them to you with the short interview below:

Lakisha Grant (Algebra I, Math Analysis)

Who was the most influential or supportive teacher you had, and why?

My fourth grade teacher, Mr. Thomas, was most influential; he was a Nigerian man who was able to help me master this monster called “fractions”. At that point, I knew that I loved Math and that I excelled in the subject. He would circulate the classroom, he never sat down. It was obvious that he was passionate about his work and we fed off of his energy.

What is it about the NMSS mission that aligns with your personal or professional goals?

In connection to the NMSS mission’s emphasis on rigor, I will always raise the bar for my students because I want them at their best when they exit our campus, ready and confident to step onto the college grounds. I aim to make the connections conceptually because memorizing formulas is temporary while the critical thinking skills remain in their schema.

What are your top 2 goals for this year?

To bridge the gap of learning loss due to COVID-19 lockdowns and to make the students feel comfortable enough to have a growth mindset towards Math. I want them to be vulnerable to try, fail, and try again because they can learn the content.

What is the environment like in your classroom?

My class is a safe learning environment. My students are willing to volunteer because I’ve made them feel comfortable to answer a question regardless of whether they are right or wrong. I have emphasized from day one that we learn best from our mistakes and great Math skills come from repetition. Students are mostly competing with each other for the better grade out of fun and love. And, when they notice a fellow student struggling, they do not criticize, they lend a helping hand. That is the environment that I teach my students the first week of school. It provides the structure they need to come in with a positive attitude, ready to learn.

What do you like to do for fun?

I like to spend time with my family by going out to dinner and various recreation activities.

Amber Myers (English I, English III, Drama)

Who was the most influential or supportive teacher you had, and why?

Hands down the most influential teacher I ever had was Mr. Robert Harris, my honors and AP English teacher in high school. He just emanated brilliance with his laid back style and wit. I loved the simplistic approach of reading aloud to us daily and opening a critical dialogue about the literature; it took the edge off of the rigorous coursework. Many of his former students were called to follow in his footsteps as his narration seeped into our consciousness and his voice was audible in our heads as we read silently. When a teacher gets into your head, in a positive way and inspires you to pay it forward, you know that person is a true leader.

What is it about the NMSS mission that aligns with your personal or professional goals?

NMSS’ Mission highlights both relevance and rigor as students transition into life post-high school. I, personally and professionally, want to see my students cultivate a love of learning that is life-long and this begins with learning how to intrinsically motivate themselves when the coursework gets difficult and the challenges seem insurmountable. That’s where we apply the “Warrior Strong” mentality. I want them to build the connections themselves, to find their “Why” they show up each day because extrinsic rewards are fleeting.

What are your top 2 goals for this year?

In the aftermath of COVID-19 distance learning, I am prioritizing full engagement through student-centered projects. Additionally, I am focused on helping my students build the habits of mind, the work ethic, that can bolster more confidence and independence in their studies. In short, I want them to know how to best serve their learning strengths.

What is the environment like in your classroom?

My classroom environment is mainly concerned with building a rapport with my students. I want them to feel at home as we share this space and time learning together. There is a balance between routines and interchangeable projects so that they know what is expected of them behaviorally and academically from day to day but also have fresh and active lessons. Consequences are clearly understood and PBIS rewards are frequent. The physical environment is vibrant, clean, perennially smells of baked goods, and is well-organized. The floor plan changes regularly to add visual dynamic. And, for my day dreamers, the walls are plastered with positive quotes and content posters.

What do you like to do for fun?

As a hyperactive person, I enjoy most things. I love spending time with my small family unit, going out with close friends, and hiking when I need time to decompress. I love to cook, dance, journal, read, and scrapbook. I strive to “suck all the marrow out of life”!

NMSS Brings out the Superhero in Everyone

Whoever you are and wherever you have come from, we believe in you. Each person has a special gift to bring, and at NMSS we celebrate our diversity, champion each other, and help to co-elevate everyone we encounter.

If you are looking for the right high school for your youth, we are a safe, small, free, excellent choice. Enrolling now.

ABOUT NMSS

The New Millennium Secondary School (NMSS) is a charter high school in Gardena, CA committed to preparing students to become life-long learners and dynamic leaders in the competitive 21st century. NMSS was created to address the rising global competitive environment for talent. Our students enjoy a small school education with big school sports and accredited community college classes. Enroll your student today!