Niara Allen | Crimson Chronicle Reporter
There’s a particular kind of magic happening in room 431. It’s not just the hum of plasma balls or the visuals of the big bang glowing on a whiteboard projection. It’s the sound of a community, one built note by note, lab by lab and one student at a time.
In the academically intense world of the School of Advanced Studies program (SAS), students are often defined by their grades and rigor. But if you ask them what defines their experience as a whole, one name comes up, again and again, a teacher who has become the program’s unofficial heart and soul: Strangeluv.
For Kayden Pak, an 11th-grader who transferred into SAS his sophomore year, that heart was a welcoming one when he needed it most. “She was one of the most welcoming teachers,” he recalls, the memory still vivid.
“I didn’t really know anyone back then, but she made me feel like it was my community,” said Kayden, “That was really crazy.”
That feeling of being seen is a thread that runs through every conversation about her, starting with the newest members of the school.
“She welcomes us with open arms,” said freshman Alexis Cruz.
That warm welcome is only the beginning. In her biology class, freshmen are immediately handed scalpels and specimens, a marked change from years past.
“I’m very happy about it,” said SAS freshman August Tahani-Bidmeshki, a hint of excitement in his voice, “[Strangeluv] teaches in a way that we get to do things that I personally haven’t done, like dissect a fish, which was fun.”
For Strangeluv, this immersive approach is intentional, even if it’s exhausting.
“I do about three labs a week, which is a lot of work,” she admitted, “I’ve realized how tired I am every day… but seeing the results makes it worth it.
When you guys produce posters or videos, it’s amazing,” added Strangeluv, “You’re learning so much more, and you’re genuinely excited about the work.”
This hands-on, student-centered approach became a lifeline for the entire program last year when another science teacher, a friend and mentor, Christina Dempsey, suddenly left. Without hesitation, Strangeluv absorbed the abandoned classes — Biology and AP Environmental Science — into her already packed schedule.
Abraham Reyes Garcia, a SAS junior, watched her step up.
“I feel that she is a very strong person,” said Abraham, “Taking on other classes just like that, it’s not an easy thing to do.”
For Strangeluv, the transition was personal and professional.
“Dempsey and I were good friends, so of course I’m going to miss my friend,” said Strangeluv, “Taking on a class load I wasn’t used to teaching has definitely made this year a little more difficult — but also exciting — because I’m relearning a lot of the material I grew up with.”
In her new astronomy class, she turns the vastness of space into an engaging playground.
“All the labs we’ve done, they’ve been really engaging,” shared junior Douae Nuach, “Instead of just, like, reading the whole time.”
Yet, the true cornerstone of her teaching isn’t a curriculum; it’s her unwavering presence. Students unanimously describe a teacher who masterfully balances whole-class instruction with deeply personal, one-on-one help.
“She’s always there… willing to help,” said junior Blake Jenkins, “She makes sure that we understand things before we move on.”
This personalized attention never crosses into unfairness, as some may think. SAS junior Jessy Chavez is quick to clarify the nature of her relationships.
“It’s like favoritism on a friendly level, as opposed to an academic level,” explained Jessy, “I’ve never seen her give extra credit to other students who she favored.”
For Kayden Pak, this fairness was proven when he was the new kid.
“She does not have a bias, I can tell you that off that much,” said Kayden, “She broke [the learning material] down for me…and she also did that for every other student that asked for help.”
So, what is the secret? What makes a teacher so indispensable?
For August Tahani-Bidmeshki, a freshman, it’s the grace she grants her students.
“I like Strangeluv since, while she is fast paced, she will let you do the work at your own pace,” said August.
For Jessy, it’s something deeper, more personal.
“She is my favorite teacher out of every teacher,” he shared, his words carrying a quiet conviction, “because she’s a teacher I can connect with.”
But if you ask Strangeluv if she is the “face of SAS,” she humbly deflects the title.
“No, not at all,” said Strangeluv, “SAS is a family, not a single face.”
In a program designed to challenge the mind, Alice Strangeluv has mastered the most critical lesson of all: that the deepest learning grows not just from rigor, but from relationship. She hasn’t just taught her students about science, she’s built them a home they can come back to no matter what.
