Asha brings new quirks to CPHS

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Tiffany Asha takes a selfie with the kaleidoscope on her phone. While this picture illustrates Asha’s quirky style, her originality is also presented through her interactions with students. Since she taught at a school in her neighborhood, many students would stop by while trick-or-treating. “I always gave out big school supplies and extra-large candy bars,” Asha said.

Anjali Sundaram, Reporter
October 10, 2014

Many times, students have had to face the hardships of moving to a new school. However, often students forget how difficult it is to move schools for teachers too. Tiffany Asha, the new photography and art teacher, taught at Deerpark Middle School, her neighborhood school, for over 10 years.

“I was nervous, but CPHS is like coming home,” Asha said. “Everyone is so extremely nice and helpful. I couldn’t ask for a better community to become a part of.”

Asha has had many good experiences with the community so far this year.

“So many students and staff members have been helpful with getting me moved in and set-up,” Asha. “They have all expressed that they are helping me because they feel it is the right thing to do, not because they want a favor in return. How wonderful is that? I love the pack.”

Not only is there a new teacher, there have been several changes to the art curriculum as well. The wet lab darkroom has been welcomed back to photography and is almost ready to open. Plus there is a new photo studio inside of B102.  As well as making a changes to the curriculum, Asha is also the sponsor for the new photography club.

“You should all join,” Asha said. “Our president Lexi is the bomb.com. We meet on the first and last Wednesday of each month.”

While the setting might have changed for Asha, her style of teaching has stayed the same.

“I’m just as quirky here as I’ve always been,” Asha said. “You can usually find me at my door welcoming people, hear me singing crazy made up songs, or find me secretly dancing to whatever music we are listening in class that day. I’m an artist, what can I say?”

Art and photography has always been a part of Asha’s life. Her father was photographer in the army and her mother is a watercolor artist. As a child, her favorite toy was a toy Polaroid camera and her earliest memories are of her touring the National Gallery of Art with her mother on school holidays. Growing up with art and photography has been her inspiration and makes her the teacher she is today.

“Creativity is the seat of the soul,” Asha said. “I can’t remember who said that first, but it is so true.”