Learn about Ms. Alyson Putney

Ms. Putney is an new teacher in the Special Education department here at SMHS. This is the first school she has taught at. Ms. Putney went to college at San Jose State. She has been here since 2015, but she hasn’t always been a teacher.  Ms. Putney is an alumnus of Righetti high school. Her original major was Sociology and Criminology.

Ms. Putney became a teacher last year, 2020, two weeks before quarantine began. Ms. Putney said it was hard for her to adjust to the new way of teaching/learning, since she just started teaching. Ms. Putney said it was hard for her to keep in touch with her students, since everything was online and not all students respond to their emails.

Ms. Putney says she is having a great time at SM. She said, “I’ve been here for six years, and its been great. The staff here are so helpful and welcoming. My favorite part is interacting with the students.” She also said that she has great communication with her students. “I am very flexible with them. They know I am very open when it comes to them answering questions, I don’t expect one specific answer from them, which makes it easier for them.”

Ms. Putney also likes to have fun and to do that she goes for walks and to the beach. “I really like to do arts and crafts; it is not much, but that’s what I do and I also go for walks, and I really enjoy going to the beach.”

Here is a piece of advice from Ms. Putney to the students going to college: “Take advantage of scholarships, clubs, and all those types of opportunities. They look really great on resumes, but it’s also good for your own development. Try to learn how to meet new people.”