Halfway through the 2024-2025 school year Salida High School introduced a new geometry teacher, Alexandra Harman.
Harman grew up in Pueblo, where she enjoyed swimming, running cross country, and riding horses. After graduating from South High School, she did her undergrad at Colorado State University, majored in Equine Sciences, and took up horse training for a couple years in Argentina. For her masters degree, she went to the University of Pennsylvania for Computer Science. Following school, she began teaching at the college level in 2013 and K-12 in 2015. Harman has been teaching for over ten years and is excited to continue her passion at SHS.
“I was working as a software engineer and it was fun, but it was kind of lonely, and I was missing being in the classroom,” stated Harman.
Harman works part time as a software engineer in the afternoons and teaches geometry at the high school in the mornings. This year is her first year teaching geometry fully. Harman said that her favorite part about teaching geometry is that it is “different math, and that oftentimes kids who struggle in Algebra will do really well in Geometry. It’s fun to see how the brain works.”
Harman explained that becoming a teacher at SHS has been a really fun experience, and she has enjoyed getting to know students and other teachers in the process.
“I think that the high school is a really good reflection on the community, how functional the kids are, so obviously not everywhere is perfect, but for the most part they [students at SHS] are the nicest kids I’ve taught in a public school system by far,” said Harman.
In the future, Harman hopes to possibly expand SHS’s math program by implementing a computer science class if there is enough interest from students. She is also interested in teaching AP Statistics if given the opportunity.
Harman said, “The kids come to school ready to learn and it shows the community values within the school system and vice versa.”
Aside from teaching, Harman enjoys riding her horses, snowboarding, and gardening. Not only is Harman excited to be a part of the Salida High School community, but staff and students at SHS are excited to have her!