About me
Courtney Villaseñor is an English teacher, instructional coach, literacy advocate, and unapologetic nerd who believes students learn best when rigor, creativity, and connection all share the same table. She teaches eleventh-grade English at Independence High School, where she works to build supportive, challenging classrooms grounded in the school’s RISE values: Responsibility, Integrity, Service, and Excellence. Beyond her own classroom, Courtney serves as an instructional coach both on her campus and with Workforce teachers across the district. She collaboratively works with teams to develop curriculum, common assessments, and literacy-focused instructional practices that strengthen student learning across sites. Courtney is especially passionate about argumentative and explanatory writing, CAASPP preparation, and helping students develop synthesis and critical thinking skills through engaging, discussion-based learning experiences. She also serves as an assistant speech and debate coach, encouraging students to speak confidently and think deeply about the world around them. When she is not teaching or coaching, you can probably find her rolling dice with students in Independence High School’s tabletop gaming club, The Silver Talon Guild, where students bond over Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer 40k, and a shared love of storytelling in all its forms.
