About Mr. Nguyen

It was during his time as a student at Bates College that Alvin Nguyen realized he wanted to be a teacher.

“I worked in an after-school program,” he says. “I noticed the impact I had on these kids when I came into their lives and gave them expectations.”

And when the chance presented itself for Mr. Nguyen to work at CCSC, he jumped.

“There are few schools like this that emphasize relationship building for students and teachers,” says Mr. Nguyen. “These relationships make our work enjoyable and will give them the skills to succeed in college.”

Helping prepare students for college is difficult, says Mr. Nguyen, but he enjoys the challenge.

“The most difficult part of teaching is balancing the needs of the students in your classroom with the expectations of the school,” he says. “I’m here to open the window to the world and to show how you can do it. However, it is up to the student to open it.”

Mr. Nguyen, who lives in Chelsea, relies on the example set by one of his favorite former teachers, Ms. Miller, who taught English Literature.

“She led the most interesting discussions on a roundtable and would read student work aloud,” he says. “I still remember when she read my essay out loud to the class.