After teaching for two years in San Francisco, Calif., Brandy Siddiqui joins St. Louis Park High School as an addition to the social studies department.

Siddiqui graduated from the University of San Francisco. She currently teaches freshman civics, economics, geography and ICL, with plans to teach senior economics in the upcoming semester.

Siddiqui said the diversity of the high school attracted her to the Park community.

“I am used to a more diverse student population so I was excited to work with more [diverse] students,” Siddiqui said.

In addition to teaching social studies, Siddiqui will be the new faculty member for the African and Middle Eastern club, formerly known as the Muslim Student Association.

She said her plans include focusing on issues relevant to students participating in the club. She said she hopes this club offers an outlet for these students to converse together.

“It seems like a lot of students are interested and talking about issues that deal with being the first generation in the United States,” Siddiqui said.

A majority of the students in the club have parents who are immigrants to the United States. Siddiqui said this causes some difficulties that students benefit from discussing in a group setting.

“It is a little bit different, so talking about those kinds of things seems to be what students want to talk about,” Siddiqui said.

Siddiqui also enjoys spending her free time with her six-year-old twin girls and said she looks forward to an exciting school year.