Name: J.C. Santos
Nicknames: Sifusantos, Mr. Santa
Teaches: Literature, Language Arts, Spellig, Social Studies, Technology, Old Testament, Church History, Morality, and irony…
Extra Curricular: Speech team, yearbook, talent show, all things 8th grade, kitchen wizard.
Religion: Catholic
Hobbies: Basketball, writing, singing, singing at church, meditating, song-writing, eating at restaurants, traveling – especially to the ocean and mountains.
Years experience: 14
Other teaching experience: Shorewood High School & Maui Preparatory Academy
Education: BA in Journalism, BA in Humanities, Master in Teaching, all from Seattle University. O’Dea High School graduate. St. Benedict School graduate.
Favorite worldly travels: Tokyo, New Zealand’s North Island, Roma, Venezia, Lourdes, Bruges, Cologne, Barcelona, and Hawaii.
Super power I’d like most: The ability to fly and telekinesis/telepathy.
Favorite movies: Lord of the Rings; The Hobbit
Favorite musician: Sade, Jazz, Folk
Favorite Sports Team: SeaaaHawwwwwks! and I’m still a die hard Supersonics fan!
Favorite restaurants: Hmmm… Okay, here’s five in no particular order: Umi (for their innovative sushi), Mediterranean Kitchen in Bellevue (for the best meal I’ve ever had, Dajaj Mishwi, and outstanding service), Gordito’s (for the biggest, bestest burritos a ten dollar bill can buy), New Star (best Chinese food in the city), and lastly West Seattle Fish House (for their impeccable tilapia).
Why I teach at OLG can be summed up in two words: loving community. In my time here, I’ve witnessed a parish community that is supportive, gritty, passionate, challenging, and united. It’s invigorating as a human being to be a part of something bigger than oneself, and my path happened to lead me to High Point. I feel like I make a difference for my neighbors here. There’s no better sense of accomplishment than feeling like you’re carrying out God’s work.
Like this community, I am a dreamer. Age has helped the realist in me emerge, but I believe because of this community, the idealist in me lives on. That balance helps me prepare my students for a world that seems to be spinning farther away from simple, and deeper into socio-political-technological complexities.
I love working at OLG, so much so that I wish I could make “Diego” my middle name. It’s a wonderful place to teach, grounded in service and faith.
