About Me

Welcome to my page! My name is Mark Valbuena, and I am proud to be in my 14th year teaching at Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences and my 21st year with LAUSD. I am passionate about teaching mathematics and helping students discover both confidence and curiosity in learning. Over the years, I have taught Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Statistics, and AP Calculus AB/BC.

This year, I am teaching Algebra 1, Statistics, Pre-Calculus, and AP Calculus AB/BC. I am especially excited to be part of a pilot program using Virtual Reality (VR) to teach Algebra 1 through Prisms VR. Since the program is still growing, I plan to introduce it not only in Algebra 1 but also in Statistics, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus whenever possible to enhance learning.

In addition to teaching at VAAS, I am also a part-time professor at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where I have taught for the past 15 years. At CSUN, I’ve taught a wide range of classes, from remedial math to Pre-Calculus and Business Math.

Beyond the Classroom

Outside of teaching, I enjoy traveling with my family every summer and watching watching Dodger baseball!! My wife is a high school science teacher at Bell High School, and we have two sons who are both in high school. One is a freshman at Hart High School in Santa Clarita, where he plays basketball, and the other is a sophomore at South High School in Torrance, where he plays baseball.

I am also passionate about endurance sports. For the past 10 years, I have competed in marathons, ultramarathons, and triathlons. Currently, I am recovering from knee surgery I had five months ago, but I look forward to returning to training in the future.

Teaching Philosophy

My goal as a teacher is to create an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and motivated to grow. Whether through traditional methods or innovative tools like VR, I strive to make math accessible, engaging, and meaningful for every student.