23 years in the making: Math teacher continues to inspire students

SICAT 3: Teacher Teresa Sicat explains the lesson to her students on Sept. 3, 2025 (Gerald Betanio/The Tower).

Q&A Profile: Teresa Sicat 

By GERALD BETANIO 

The Tower 

MANTECA –  As you enter a wonderfully decorated classroom, in the new CTE building, in room V208, you may have seen a teacher with a smile on her face, and greets you with a “good morning.”  

In her classroom, you see tables with organizers that are filled with calculators and rulers.  

She is known for her wonderful presence, and she always supports her students. 

Meet Teresa Sicat, a mathematics teacher at Manteca High School who had other dreams of being a medical doctor or an engineer. 

Twenty-three years ago, Sicat began her teaching career in the Philippines. When she started her teaching journey, she had dreams of becoming a medical doctor or an engineer. 

NOTE 

“Being a teacher was not my dream,” mathematics teacher Teresa Sicat said. “I dreamed about becoming either a medical doctor or an engineer.”  

Before applying to be a teacher, Sicat said that she would “spend time with her kids, and her church.” She would usually have ministries in her church during the weekends and sometimes even during the week. 

Right after she graduated from college, where she was in pre-engineering , she immediately took the time to apply as a Christian private school teacher in the Philippines, where she spent five years teaching. 

After the first five years of teaching in her home country, she took a leap of faith and decided to teach in the United States. 

When arriving to the United States, she first taught mathematics in Stockton for four years, where she spent three as a middle school teacher, and one as a high school teacher. Then, she moved to Vallejo, where she taught middle school for six years, then finally made the move to be a teacher at Manteca High. 

After school, Sicat would never leave her classroom right away. Usually, she opens her classroom to students on select days who need to retake, or make up tests and quizzes that they either missed all because they were absent, or because they received a low score, and she would also be open for tutoring hours. 

Student Olivia Allis, who had Sicat as a math teacher, says that Sicat is attentive towards her students, and even makes sure that “everyone is okay in any situation.” 

“She is really considerate of her students,” former student Allis said. “She definitely makes sure that everyone’s comfortable and okay in any situation.” 

Sicat teaches various kinds of math subjects like algebra, robotics, and geometry.  

Sicat is also a co-advisor of the Robotics Club, along with math teacher Judith Tuddao. 

The Tower had a chance to chat with Teresa Sicat to discuss her teaching career, and how she dreamed of being a medical doctor or an engineer. 

The Tower: Why did you want to teach Math? 

Teresa Sicat: I majored in math because maybe when I was in high school, I would say that I am quite good, in math, and so I pursued secondary education major in math. 

TT: Did anyone inspire you to become a teacher? 

TS: It was not my dream to become a teacher. But along the way, I would say that I was purposely placed by God in this profession to inspire others. I learned to love it, and I learned to enjoy it. 

TT: Were there any subjects you wanted to teach besides Math? 

TS: Robotics, because you know, I would’ve loved to be an engineer before, and I think I’m teaching robotics also, which is quite related to math, or very much related to math. 

TT: What were you doing behind the scenes before becoming a teacher? 

TS: Behind the scenes, like when I’m not in school, I am busy with my kids. I am busy with our church. I have ministries in the church on weekends and even during the week. 

TT: If you weren’t a teacher right now, what would you be doing right now? 

TS: Maybe continue my passion to work in an engineering field.  

TT: Since you became teacher of the month back in February, do you like teaching or enjoying time with your family? 

TS: I would say both. I enjoyed, you know, doing what I’m doing as a teacher. I spent, you know, until like 5:30, six, you know, late. 

TT: Do you have any advice for past, present, or future students? 

TS: My principal is everyone can learn math. It’s just a hated subject for most students because maybe their experience on how they were taught, how they were introduced to the concept, but it takes patience, and perseverance, and so for students out there, they just need to believe in themselves. It’s just, they just have the desire to learn, and the patience and perseverance.