Rachel Winstead, Humanities & Financial Math

"Rachel earned her B.A. in English Literature and Southern Studies from the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College at the University of Mississippi and her M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Arizona State University, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. 

Rachel has taught English as a second language to students around the world and earned her TEFL certification from the University of Toronto. She spent a summer teaching in China and has worked with English language learners in both classroom and community settings. Before teaching high school, Rachel worked in the corporate staffing industry, where she coordinated client services and led cross-functional projects—an experience that strengthened her communication and organizational skills. After college, she moved from Mississippi to Arizona to serve as an AmeriCorps member with Maggie’s Place, where she led community programs. That experience cemented her passion for education—and her love for the desert.

Rachel now teaches humanities and financial math at Metropolitan Arts Institute, where she co-designs interdisciplinary curriculum and sponsors the National Honor Society. She also serves as Communications Director on the board of the Arizona English Teachers Association and recently participated in Tulane University’s “Tejiendo Saberes” summer institute in Guatemala, developing curriculum rooted in Indigenous knowledge and culturally responsive teaching practices.

In her free time, Rachel loves to trail run and play with her dog, Dexter. Her living room is full of houseplants—especially pothos, though she tries not to play favorites. She also enjoys reading, drinking coffee, playing board games, and meeting new people wherever she goes."