Staff Spotlight: Ruby Zamora-Sandland Bringing Joy to Fisher Students
This post is part of the Lynden Schools Staff Spotlight series
Ruby Zamora-Sandland carries a level of excitement every day to her role teaching math and science to fifth graders at Fisher Elementary. She wants that exuberance to carry over into far more than just the academic subjects.
The Role
Entering her sixth year as a fifth-grade teacher at Fisher Elementary, Zamora-Sandland is eager to explore the school’s new model where she now teaches just math and science (instead of all subjects). “It’s been such a fun change to dive deeper into these subjects with students,” she says. That focus means she’s working with two groups of fifth graders daily, using that time to build far more than academic knowledge.
“For me, there’s so much more to this role than teaching math and science,” she says. “My priority is to bring joy to my students and make sure they leave my classroom each day feeling loved, cherished and feel a true sense of belonging.”
Her goal is to make learning fun and engaging. That’s why students rarely are seen head-down handling worksheets, instead collaborating, talking, moving about and participating in hands-on activities. “I always say that if I’m bored, they’re probably bored too,” she says. “My goal is to make sure that students are fully engaged, connecting their learning to the real world and enjoying the process.”
Zamora-Sandland says working within a community full of loving and supportive families has been a bonus. “Every year, I’m sad to leave my students, but I’m just as sad to say goodbye to their families,” she says. “They are a huge part of my teaching and make my job so much easier and more meaningful.
“But what I appreciate most about teaching is the chance to positively influence my students’ lives. I strive to be a role model, showing perseverance kindness and empathy. They’re watching and hearing how I approach challenges, interact with others and make decisions. Every day, I get the chance to guide them not just academically, but socially and emotionally, helping them build confidence, independence and resilience. I love seeing how even small words of encouragement or moments of guidance can inspire students to try new things, overcome challenges and believe in themselves. When they think back to fifth grade, I hope they remember the joy they experienced in my class, feeling safe to be themselves and how they grew in confidence. Knowing I can play a part in shaping who they are becoming makes this job incredibly meaningful and rewarding.”
Getting to Know Ruby
Recently married, Zamora-Sandland and her husband are busy spending time with family, friends, their pet Scout and attending concerts. In the past year, she’s been to 10 concerts (mostly country), but admits her singing still hasn’t improved. The couple also loves to travel, exploring new places when possible. They recently celebrated their first anniversary of marriage in Belize, “which is by far our favorite place we’ve visited,” she says. “But every time we return to Washington, we always say the same thing: no place beats the beauty of the scenery here.”
Zamora-Sandland stays connected to the community volunteering at school and district events, looking to support programs that make a positive impact for students. For the past four years she’s led a Bible study with the same group of girls. It started when they were in middle school and now they’re in high school. “It has been such a joy to watch them grow in their faith, lean on God through challenges and walk in his love as they navigate each stage of school within the Lynden School District.”
Having lived in Lynden for five years, Zamora-Sandland’s loved making the town her new home. “I’m so thankful,” she says, “to be a part of a community that is so loving, supportive and always coming together to help those in need.”
