According to Mark Solkov, every teacher emulates the teacher they needed in high school. At least, that’s what he does.
“I gravitated toward the teacher who recognized me as a human being, not just as a student in their class,” said Solkov, who teaches Survey and World Literature. “The teacher who took their time to get to know me, beyond the curriculum and my grades.
Becoming this kind of teacher, however, wasn’t something he always planned to do.
Growing up in the Bay Area, Solkov was an avid reader. His love for books naturally led him to major in English at San Jose State University. Yet after graduation, he found himself in an entirely different world working at a big tech company.
“I was making pretty good money,” Solkov said. “But I was so miserable. I had a horrible commute, my boss was a jerk and I just didn’t fit in.”
He decided to quit after six months. A friend suggested that he become a substitute teacher. In a range of classrooms, teaching students of all ages, Solkov found his place.
“I went from feeling like a loser and a failure to falling in love with teaching,” Solkov said.
This year marks his 10th year as an English teacher. Having attended a large public high school himself, Solkov always envisioned teaching at one. He is eager to join the diverse community at LAHS — something his previous school of nine years lacked.
“This is an amazing school,” Solkov said. “I feel very fortunate and grateful to be here.”
In the first few weeks of school, he’s already made a positive impression on his students.
“Mr. Solkov stands out as a teacher because of how he creates a relaxed and comfortable learning environment,” freshman Ediz Kucuk said.
Solkov’s focus on connecting with his students and creating a friendly classroom atmosphere has proved to be impactful regardless of his location.
“Good teaching gets across, no matter what campus you’re on,” he said. “All the awkwardness of being new here faded away in the first couple of weeks, which was comforting and relieving. Now I just get to do what I love.”
