Sandra Wallace hated math. Now she’s a math teacher.

Growing up, her teachers weren’t approachable, and she never felt confident in math. But when Wallace walked into current AP Calculus teacher Julie Burnside’s ninth grade geometry class in 2003 at Bellaire High School, that all changed.

“She totally gave me a change of heart [and] made me realize that not only do I understand [math] and I’m good at it, but I enjoy it,” Wallace said.

Eleven years later, she’s back at Bellaire High School. This time, she is teaching alongside Burnside, who is “the reason” Wallace decided that she wanted to become a math teacher.

AP precalculus and geometry teacher, Wallace graduated from Bellaire in 2007. As a student, she balanced lacrosse, eMotion and rigorous classes. Now, she contributes to Bellaire as a teacher by sponsoring Women’s Lacrosse and Art Car Club.

Wallace graduated from Texas A&M University in 2011. She began her teaching career at John J. Pershing Middle School. Two years later, Wallace found her way back to Bellaire because she loved “the culture [and] the vibrant campus.”

“I was excited just to come back [and] I was really blown away with how much I enjoyed working here,” Wallace said. “There’s a real sense of community, especially within the math department. Everyone is so close-knit and works together and helps each other.”

Wallace said coming back to her old school “was a little bit weird and deja vu-ish.” It was also a shock that she would also be working alongside some of her former teachers. A bigger shock to her was that she had to start calling them by their first names, which she considers to be “the strangest thing.”

“There were quite a few teachers that still worked here who I had [as teachers],” Wallace said. “Mr. Wolf was my English teacher. Funny enough, Ms. Bergen was my dance teacher in eighth grade. When Ms. Frank was here, she was my seventh grade English teacher.”

Now working together, Burnside has become a mentor to Wallace.

“Anytime [Burnside] has anything to share, I always soak it up and try to learn from her and put some of her stuff into practice because I really respect her, and I think she’s awesome,” said Wallace.

Burnside was also excited to reconnect with an old student, now as a colleague.

“I think there’s an added comfort level to it and the relationship is already established,” Burnside said.

Burnside remembered Wallace as a “very good, very bright student” and said she felt emotional to hear that Wallace views her as an inspiration and takes it to heart.

“I [feel] very honored,” Burnside said. “I remember her being very upbeat and enthusiastic and she has the same personality today.”

Wallace takes her experience from her being a student and creates it into a positive and supportive environment for other students, such as current AP Pre-Calculus student and junior Rianah Patel. Patel appreciates Wallace’s supportiveness of other students as well as her empathy towards others and hospitality.

“She’s very understanding in a way that other teachers aren’t, she speaks about mental health and is open about her own mental health,” Patel said. “She doesn’t have strict deadlines for everything [and] she gives us a lot of grace for homework. She’s just very nice.”

Former Algebra 2 student and junior Zachary Barnett describes Wallace as an excellent teacher and also a relatable and caring person.

“She makes everything really simple, especially difficult concepts like arithmetic and geometric sequences in Algebra 2,” Barnett said. “She emphasizes the communal side of math rather than just memorization.”

Shaped by her experience as a student at Bellaire, Wallace encourages students to show their passion and explore new hobbies.

“Get involved,” Wallace said. “We have so many clubs here, and whatever you’re interested in, whatever your passion is, there is a place for you. There are other people who feel the same way that you do, who have the same interests. And I think if you can find your niche, find your group of people, they really help form bonds and become your family while you’re here.”