In Ms. Cambra’s classroom, students are often surprised by how much they enjoy cooking and interior design once they give it a try. For Cambra, the moments when students discover confidence in skills they didn’t know they had, is what makes teaching Family and Consumer Sciences so meaningful.

“I believe we are all creative in some way. We may not ever tap into it, but we all have the capacity for it,” Cambra said. She explained that one of her favorite parts of teaching is watching students realize they are capable of more than they expected, especially in hands-on labs where creativity and problem solving come together.

That belief in helping students grow started long before she entered OA’s Business and Applied Arts program. In high school, Cambra had an English teacher who she looked up to and helped her realize she wanted to become an educator herself.

“He was an instrumental influence in my life and I wanted to make a difference in kids’ lives like he had made in mine,” she said, explaining that his support first led her to pursue English education before she eventually switched into Family and Consumer Sciences.

Now in her seventh year at OA, Cambra uses her classroom to teach more than just cooking and interior design. She focuses heavily on preparing students for the real world expectations through teaching soft skills. 

“I believe being brilliant opens doors, but in most professions you also need to possess soft skills,” she said, emphasizing communication, teamwork, and responsibility in her cooking labs.

Outside of academics, Cambra says her perspective as a parent has also shaped how she relates to students, especially teenagers navigating stress and responsibility.

“I have always enjoyed teens and cannot imagine teaching young children. Being a mom has made me more appreciative of the struggles and challenges teens face,” she said.

For Cambra, the impact she leaves on students matters just as much as what she teaches them.

“My favorite quote is Maya Angelou’s: ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,’” she said. “I hope I made a difference for the better in a student’s life.”