Rion Romero, the new drama and speech/debate teacher is starting his first year of teaching at Oakmont High School. 

“I went to college at a school called Chapman University,” Romero said. “I have a bachelor in fine arts and theater performance, and a minor in history. I went to school from 2017 to 2021…[I’m going] to postgraduate school for teaching, and [got] a teaching credential from CSU East Bay.”

Romero hopes to make the drama department at Oakmont even better than it already is. He hopes his contributions can help make the student participation better.

“I want people to associate Oakmont with good theater and obviously that takes time and that takes a lot of effort, but I would like to reinvigorate the drama program,” Romero said.

Romero’s hope is that Oakmont students will see the productions and theater programs made, and want to be involved in them, whether they care about drama, or just want to be a part of a welcoming group of people.

“I got into teaching by accident. I had my degree, I wasn’t doing much because it was post COVID. I got a text from an old teacher of mine who said,  ‘I think you’d be a great teacher’, because I’ve done a lot of stage combat workshops for her students,” said Romero.

Romero enjoys being at Oakmont everyday because the people are fun and everyday is slightly different. He chose Oakmont so he could stay in the district he grew up in, and had experience in.

“You guys always make everyday a little bit different, and everyday a little bit interesting, but I always come to work excited,” Romero said. “I don’t always like getting up, but by the time I’m in the car and driving it’s fun [to think about] ‘okay, what are we gonna do today?’” 

Romero hopes to make the drama department better today than it was yesterday.