I began teaching at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights where I taught English 9, 10, & 12 for 7 years. I was also the Drama teacher for 4 years, directing productions that were written as well as produced by the seniors. I was the faculty sponsor for a few student groups such as the Senior Class and Book Club. I loved my students and the families there, but I knew I needed a change in scenery.

 

I moved to New York to attend grad school as well as work in various positions in education, including substitute teaching, educational research, and student teacher placement.

 

I then returned to California and began working with the Alliance in 2010 at Leichtman-Levine Family Foundation Environmental Science (formerly ESAT) High School in Glassel Park, where I taught 9th & 11th grade English and College Prep. My experiences there helped define the teacher I am now and the goals I have set for my work here at ACRMA8. I helped to open this school as the founding English teacher in 2014, and I am now part of the administration team. Needless to say, I am very excited to be back in East LA & serving the community where I first started my career.

 

I earned my B.A. in English and teaching credential from Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles.

 

I earned my M.A. in English Education from New York University in New York. While attending NYU I spent a summer abroad in London, England, where I studied at The Institute of Education.

 

My parents immigrated to America from the Philippines, and my older sister and I were born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Other than my stint in New York for grad school, I'm a native Southern Californian all the way.

 

In junior high school, I was like a lot of other young teenagers: painfully shy & awkward, trying my best to blend in and not be noticed. By high school, however, I knew that I had to do things differently if I wanted to be successful. I was heavily involved in a number of groups outside of the classroom. I played the flute in band, was captain of the girls' volleyball team, Student Body Vice-President in Student Government, Secretary of the Youth Community Service Club, and I still managed to earn good enough grades to earn a Future Teacher's Scholarship for college. I tell students these things because I believe that if I managed to do all of this, then they absolutely can do it too. Having goals is important, but what's more important is believing that you can accomplish them.