We’re thrilled to introduce one of Edge’s newest staff members, Julia Nordlund! Julia joins the Edge team as a Math Teacher at our Himmel Park campus. We had the chance to ask her some questions about her life, what she loves most about teaching, and her two favorite purchases during COVID.

1. When did you know you wanted to be an educator?

It wasn’t something that I expected to be doing. I have been tutoring math since I was in middle school but I never saw myself as being a teacher. Once I finished my math degree I was looking at the jobs that I could do and teaching was actually the one that felt like it fit the best. I have always enjoyed helping people get to the “aha!” spot with math and am lucky that I get to keep helping people work towards that.

2. What’s the best advice that you’ve been given about teaching?

To start everyday new. Everyone has bad days but letting a bad day cloud the rest of your interactions with someone isn’t going to help anyone.

3. In your opinion, what’s the best part of teaching?

Working with students. I love meeting so many different personalities and learning how to best work with them. Watching students learn and grow is pretty awesome.

4. What’s the hardest part of teaching?

It uses way more energy than you’d expect. By Saturday all I want to do is nap!

5. How do you stay organized?

Lists, spreadsheets, folders, and organized chaos.

6. How does Edge align with your principles/mission as a teacher?

I wholeheartedly believe that the students should be the priority. A lot of the time working at bigger schools it can feel like the needs of the students get lost. That isn’t the case at Edge. I have never worked with a more caring group of people. This group really works to help every student be successful and that is an amazing thing to be a part of.

7. What is the first concert you ever attended and what is your favorite purchase during COVID?

The first concert I ever went to was with my mom and we went to go see Mandy Patinkin at Centennial Hall. The first concert I went to with friends was either Eve 6 or Matchbox 20. I can’t remember which happened first.

My favorite purchase during COVID is probably my guinea pigs, Doc and Pepper. I got them last May and they are funny little dudes.

Thank you, Julia, for your time on this blog post and for being part of our Edge team!

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About Edge

EDGE is a Cognia accredited, tuition-free, charter high school, with two campuses in the greater Tucson area. We provide an alternative to traditional education, meeting the diverse learning and life needs of our students with our blended curriculum and flexible morning or afternoon class schedules. Our high-quality, passionate teachers are dedicated to individualized instruction in our small academic classes. Be you. With us. At EDGE!