Jose Lucas Sabido, also known as, Mr. Sabido, has joined The Columbus School as the new 10th grade and AP Chemistry teacher, bringing his expertise while adapting to a new culture and environment.

With a background in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, Mr. Sabido is not only introducing new methods to the Chemistry department at The Columbus School but is also adjusting to a new country and teaching environment. Though timid, his approach has quickly gained him the respect and admiration of his students.

“Even though he may seem to outsiders as shy or timid, we the students who have gotten to know him in these couple of days, have seen how good and nice of a person he is,” Rafael Martinez, senior, said.

Teaching an AP course can be challenging due to the strictness of the curriculum. But, Sabido’s ability to adapt complex chemistry concepts into simpler and approachable lessons reflects his dedication and effort to making the subject understandable and interesting for his students.

“What I have enjoyed the most so far in the class, has been the lab we did recently in which we learned about density seeing in real life how liquids separated,” Juliana Grisales, 11th grader, said.

In addition to engaging his students, Sabido is always seeking for students’ clarity and preparation in exams. He believes in providing sample practice questions during class so that students know exactly what to expect during tests. This has proven useful and has been greatly appreciated by the students, who feel more prepared for the class.

“I like to give the kids practice during class, so that they know exactly what I’m going to be testing on in the tests,” Mr. Sabido, said.

Sabido’s cheerful attitude has provided a motivational environment in the classroom; he is constantly working towards creating a supportive classroom atmosphere. Additionally, his motivational style helps students feel confident in their preparation, knowing they’ve been equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge required to succeed.

“I think he’s a motivator. He’s constantly cheering us on. He’s constantly trying to get the best of us on the test when we’re scared or we’re anxious, he tries to make sure that we know that we have prepared for them,” Martinez said.

Sabido is constantly working so that what his students learn in his class will have a lasting impact on their future careers or lives beyond the classroom. This gives greater meaning to the topics discussed during class, contributing to students being more engaged with the content.

“My goals are for students to just enjoy learning whatever it is we’re talking about, to be able to apply whatever they’re learning to the outside world, and maybe they can use it in their future as a job,” Sabido said.

For Sabido, teaching is more than just a profession, it is an opportunity to explore new places and cultures. His role at The Columbus School is just one chapter in his journey as a global educator, and he looks forward to the possibility of teaching in other countries in the future.

“So the reason why I became a teacher is because I knew I could travel around the world. So some, like, opportunities that I would be looking forward to, is what comes next after teaching here in the Columbus School. What countries would I go to? What other schools would I teach in? And that’s something that really excites me about the future,” Sabido said.