Secret life of teachers: Uncover the hobbies or jobs that help them “lesson” their stress

Amid the clatter of roller coasters and the gleam of fairy tale castles, science teacher Ileana Quintana finds herself at an intersection of science, teaching and a sprinkle of magic. Her life, a mix of helping students navigate labs  and guiding guests on the Incredicoaster, blurs together into a packed yet well-organized schedule.

Currently, Quintana is pursuing her master’s degree at California State University, Fullerton while being fully funded by Disney. She is working toward a degree in teaching and a National Board certification, incorporating the practices she learns into her instruction. 

“For my degree, [I’m learning about] a teaching skill. It’s transformative teaching, so I actually learned to change the way I teach to make it more culturally responsive,” Quintana said. “That’s like getting the students’ perspective on their ideas, on their backgrounds and in their culture.” 

Alongside her master’s and her day job as a science teacher, Quintana has taken on a second job at Disney from Friday night through Sunday.

“It’s a lot of time management, from teaching to doing a master’s and working at Disney, you have to be driven to manage that kind of stuff,” Quintana said.

Quintana first started working at Disney eight years ago after graduating high school. Primarily working with attractions, she operates the Incredicoaster and The Little Mermaid ride, along with assisting with nighttime shows and fireworks. 

“The job is very tailored to younger people. I felt like I met a lot of friends, and the environment was really fun,” Quintana said. “I also liked going to Disneyland as a kid, so it was fun to work there.”  

Quintana began working with science early on. Exposed to a Regional Occupational Program class in high school that sparked her interest in teaching, she began student teaching at Walnut in 2021 after she finished taking her California state test for education. 

“I really enjoy the connections that I have with the students, especially at the high school level. I feel like we have a good rapport, and it’s fun to be able to connect and hang out with my peers,” Quintana said. 

Quintana adjusted her schedule upon becoming a teacher in 2022, switching from a full to part-time worker at Disney. She taught at Diamond Bar for a year before coming to teach biology and Project Lead the Way at Walnut.

“I like teaching science in general. It’s really hands-on and engaging, and I love the topics that I teach. I teach biology and [Project Lead the Way], and I feel like those are really cool and fun subjects,” Quintana said.

Although balancing three roles can feel daunting, Quintana still manages to carve out time for personal enjoyment. She enjoys hanging out with friends and going to concerts in her free time, rarely staying home. 

“I’m very extroverted, so I like interacting with anybody. At Disney, it’s fun to interact with guests, and here at school, it’s fun to interact with students,” Quintana said. 

Whether teaching in the classroom, managing attractions at Disneyland or focusing on her studies, Quintana does her best to infuse passion into her work. 

“She’s very understanding, and she really cares about all of her students,” junior Ariel Zhao said. “Whenever I’m absent, she makes it as easy as possible for me to catch up. I think it’s really cool that she does something outside of her workplace.”

Drawing from her various experiences, Quintana stresses the importance of time management and dedication. 

“Work hard. When you enjoy something, pursue it. There’s always a variety of things that you can accomplish. I wouldn’t let anything hold you back, and you should always try something new,” Quintana said.