Meet The Team: Alina Hughes, Kindergarten Reading Mastery Teacher

At our Old Coors campus, Ms. Hughes spends her mornings with 5-year-olds who arrive as students at the very start of their reading journey. She teaches Reading Mastery, guiding kindergartners through phonics, vocabulary, and building blocks that help reading click at an early age. She joined the team here at MAS Charter School in July 2015 and has taught kindergarten at both MAS campuses. Old Coors has been her classroom home for the past two school years.

Ms. Hughes’ path to early literacy work feels deeply personal. As a child, she did not read well until about age 10. Then, a kind and patient teacher helped her reach fluency. That memory still shapes how she shows up for students each day, with clear routines and plenty of laughter. She has also spent time as a Reading Mastery coach and traveled to Georgia for a professional development conference to deepen her understanding of the program. Outside school, she makes art for the joy of giving it to others, and her playlist leans heavy metal.

Meet Ms. Hughes, in her own words…

MAS: Let’s start at the beginning… Where did you grow up, and what first pulled you toward teaching?

MS. HUGHES: I grew up in a small agricultural town named Yakima in Washington state. I was an Army brat, so we moved to places like Virginia and South Carolina. I had a learning delay and did not read well until I was about 10 years old. The teacher I had when I began to read fluently was kind and patient with me. She made me feel like a success when my family wondered why I struggled so much. That experience made me want to become a teacher.

MAS: How does your own childhood shape the way you support MAS students?

MS. HUGHES: I was raised by a single mother with five kids, and we were on state assistance. I know how hard it can be to believe in yourself, and I almost gave up along the way myself. When a child has a team of people who believe in their potential and show love and care again and again, they begin to believe they can navigate learning and the world beyond school.

MAS: After a year as a Reading Mastery coach, what brought you back to the classroom?

MS. HUGHES: While I am proudly and happily back in the classroom, I enjoyed coaching too. I love teaching kindergarten reading at Old Coors and seeing students make early gains as readers.

MAS: What do you teach in Reading Mastery, and how is that different from Language Mastery?

MS. HUGHES: In Reading Mastery, the curriculum allows students to quickly build phonics skills. It helps jumpstart reading, even for 5-year-old students. Language Mastery exposes students to a lot of vocabulary. It teaches classification, prepositions, and sequencing. It also teaches rules about the world, like rules for vehicles, plants, and buildings.

MAS: What was your very first job?

MS. HUGHES: My first job was babysitting, and I loved working and playing with the kids. We had little adventures in our tiny Iowa town, though post-bedtime was always the slow part of the night.

MAS: Where did you go to school, and what did you study?

MS. HUGHES: I went to Washington State University (Pullman, WA). I graduated in 2009 with a degree in elementary education. While I do not have a master’s degree, I am now working toward beginning a program.

MAS: Before working at MAS, what work were you doing?

MS. HUGHES: I was a working artist in Albuquerque for three years before I worked at MAS. I still do art. It is my secondary passion after education. I do it for the joy of giving art to others.

MAS: In your experience, what helps kids learn best in your type of classroom?

MS. HUGHES: I believe joy and fun create an emotional spark. That spark helps students remember the work. When small children feel excited and happy, they recall what is taught better. The memory includes the learning moment.

MAS: How do you balance fun with the pace of early reading?

MS. HUGHES: I try to make my classroom fun and full of laughter. We’re a college prep school, and I take that seriously. A tip of the hat toward silliness goes a long way. It welcomes students back every day.

MAS: “Welcoming students back every day.” That’s a great point about attendance. What have you noticed?

MS. HUGHES: Students miss fewer days when they want to go and learn. That happens when they feel loved and seen.

MAS: You’re known for saying that it’s important to understand kindergartners as “little people.” What does that mean in your classroom?

MS. HUGHES: I believe we can push students toward great understanding when we recognize how much they are capable of retaining, especially from birth to age 8. I try to make my classroom fun and full of laughter with that in mind. We teach at a college prep school, and I take that seriously. To reach strong gains in elementary reading, a tip of the hat toward silliness goes a long way.

MAS: In your experience, what role do families and students play in the progress you see at our school?

MS. HUGHES: I know our students’ success comes from love and attention from educators, support from families who want the best for their children, and most of all, students believing in what they can accomplish. Our students can perform at a high academic level, and they show that through their effort and growth.

MAS: What training has supported your work with early readers?

MS. HUGHES: I have attended trainings for my curriculum at school. I also went to Georgia for a mini-conference. It deepened my understanding of the nuances of Reading Mastery. I have also taken many continuing education courses (CEUs) in classroom management and trauma-informed instruction, as well as courses focused on phoneme acquisition.

MAS: What do you want people to know about MAS?

MS. HUGHES: At MAS, we give every student the opportunity to embrace education. As I alluded to above, we prepare students for the college-level learning and expectations. We also nurture the whole child. We give opportunities to show love and care to themselves and those around them. MAS allows people, both tall and little, to go above and beyond what they thought they could accomplish. This school has made an impact on my own life as a mother and educator. I know the impact MAS has made on many families.

MAS: What’s something most people would be surprised to know about you?

MS. HUGHES: I love alternative culture, including heavy metal music. Some of my favorite bands include Rob Zombie, Smash Mouth, Green Day, Rage Against the Machine, and Korn. I also create art every second I can squeeze it into my day. Something else people may be surprised to know is that I was in a horrific motorcycle accident four years ago. It nearly took my life, and it has been a weird and difficult journey back to health. As a result, I try to live each day like it really matters. 

MAS: Last question… what’s your favorite restaurant in town, and what do you like to order?

MS. HUGHES: Quarter Celtic Brewpub (1100 San Mateo Blvd NE; Albuquerque, NM 87110). They have the best fish and chips in town, in my opinion. Their shepherd’s pie is incredible.