Jose Mota believes that education has the power to foster strong communities both within and beyond the classroom. His voracious appetite for learning is exhibited in each of the classes he teaches at the Signature School under the humanities banner, including anthropology, economics, government, and world history. He understands himself as a facilitator, fostering a positive and hospitable classroom environment in which students feel safe to take risks, express creativity, and think critically. An advocate for social justice and equity, Jose believes that every student matters, and, therefore, must be taken into consideration when building an academic community. Resisting overly individualistic and consumerist perspectives, he encourages students to understand that successful learning is a communal journey. As such, he models collaboration and engagement, successfully balancing his roles as classroom teacher, student advisor, colleague, social studies department chair, and most recently, a member of the Equity and Justice Committee for his regional educational association.