I am a passionate special education teacher and student advisor in East Side Union High School District. I have taught a range of classes, such as biology, study skills, and integrated science in the special education setting and in the inclusive general education setting. I specialize in working with our students and staff on attendance and behavioral interventions, and I most recently founded an attendance intervention mentorship program that is focused on setting goals, promoting self-advocacy, developing social emotional learning, and fostering healthy relationships. I care deeply about our students, and I am dedicated to addressing the opportunity gap in our communities from the very beginning of our students’ education to their graduation of high school and beyond. I am motivated by building community, learning from others, and my experience as a first-generation Latina growing up in a low-income household with a single mom who is also an educator. My family and I experienced housing insecurity when I was younger and schools were a critical safe place. 

 I am committed to supporting all of our Oak Grove Schools as safe places for all of our students of all identities. I have ample experience in this regard, having served on my school and district site teams for social emotional learning, school site council, multi-tiered support systems (MTSS/PBIS), and as a special education department chair. I worked with our school’s social worker to found the Bring Change 2 Mind “BC2M” club that promotes mental health advocacy and wellbeing for staff and our students. I am also committed to equitable policy and advocacy and have participated in fellowships such as Urban Leaders Fellowship, New Leaders Council, and Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley’s Latino Board Leadership Academy. I have had the wonderful experience of serving as a public policy fellow with First5 California, where I researched and wrote proposals to California commissions about adverse childhood experiences. Each of these opportunities provided me the time to learn more about local policy and leadership on a governing board. 

I hold a B.A. in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania and a M.Ed in Special Education from Loyola Marymount University. I would be so honored to work with my community and neighbors and use my policy, classroom and personal experience to ensure a positive future for Oak Grove. 

My teaching and life philosophy is that every brain can learn and every one can grow. This philosophy reflects my belief that all of our students deserve equitable opportunities and that we should provide opportunities that honor and reflect the diversity of our students. I will advocate for programs and prioritize the budget to reflect the needs and values of our community and our students including implementing and innovating our supports and programs for English language learners, special education, and mental and physical health resources. I am also committed to providing support for all of our staff, certificated and classified, that help create the positive communities for our children to grow. I will continue to be an active community member with parents and neighbors and support our students from Oak Grove through ESUHSD. 

I was born and raised in the Santa Clara Valley. I grew up in a family of teachers. My father was a high school teacher & successful coach, and my mother was a college teacher & administrator. I have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and a teaching credential & master’s degree from National University. As a former teacher in the Oak Grove School District, I have a unique perspective on the inner workings of the OGSD. I understand the challenges facing the district. Where the problems and pitfalls are, as well as the possibilities and promise. I have worked with students, parents, teachers, and administrators in the district. I have worked in schools as both a teacher and classified staff member for 25 years. I have helped innovate and develop new programs to help support students and teachers at the individual school level. I have conducted teacher trainings to bring new and innovative teaching strategies to help teacher better teach all students. Including students with learning disabilities and language barriers. I have helped develop new curriculum for students of all different learning modalities. I have worked in various educational settings, developing and implementing budgets as well as recruiting and training staff members.

I have lived and worked in Santa Clara County my whole life. I am a well-respected coach, special education teacher and have been an advocate for all students my entire career.  I am tireless in my efforts to support children, and want to continue my work as a member of the Oak Grove Elementary School District Board of Trustees have the qualified voice of a teacher be heard. Because I am a classroom teacher, I know what it takes to make students successful, and strive to excel at it every day. As a former teacher in the Oak Grove School District and current Board President, I understand the challenges facing the district and have innovative ideas to reduce class size, increase teacher pay, modernize Special Education and English Language Development services, engage teachers to solve the problems in curriculum implementation, and oversee district budgets. My spending priorities will always put students first. I have many teacher friends in the Oak Grove School District who are proud to endorse a candidate who understands schools and how they work. I work hard to be a trusted man who represents parents and students in all my decisions as a board member.