Hazel Eng
Assistant Principal of Counseling Services
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine; Master of Arts in Education and School Counseling, Azusa Pacific University; Teaching Credential and Pupil Personnel Service Credential, Azusa Pacific University
Hazel Eng joined California Connections Academy in 2011, where she is a high school assistant principal and is responsible for counseling services.
Why I Became an Educator
I’ve known since high school that I wanted to work in education because I wanted to make a difference in children’s lives. I started out teaching, but after learning about some of the issues students were dealing with at home and in the classroom, I wanted to become more of an advocate for them and switched to counseling.
I love that this school has a wide variety of students, ranging from elite athletes to those who are struggling and may be credit deficient. The diverse needs of our students inspire me to create solutions that give them an opportunity to succeed.
The Online School Experience at California Connections Academy
This school is a welcoming community for everyone—students, parents, teachers, and counselors. The culture encourages creativity and flexibility to meet everyone’s needs, especially those of our students. I realized there’s a lot of room for this creativity as soon as I started working here. Everyone at this school benefits from it.
My favorite aspect of this job is figuring out solutions for students based on their individual needs. It’s like a puzzle piece. I appreciate having the resources and flexibility necessary to help students and to assist our counseling team as they help students.
What Families Considering This School Should Keep in Mind
Students at this school are independent and able to take ownership of their own learning. They are the ones who reach out to teachers and counselors. Empowering students to make decisions and communicate, and encouraging them to become successful independent learners, gives them a leg up after they graduate.
“This school is able to serve students who have needs that are not being met at traditional brick-and-mortar public schools.”
— Ms. Eng