I was born and raised in Inglewood, California. I attended Hawthorne High School, and I received my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Music from the University of California, Santa Barbara. After completing my undergraduate degree, I took a year off from school and served as a tutor and mentor at John Muir Middle School, in South Los Angeles, through a nonprofit organization called City Year. I had always wanted to teach, but my passion for education grew tremendously when serving the students of LA.

Statistics show that students with low grades in Math and English, behavioral challenges, and attendance issues are at a higher risk of dropping out, but I do not accept that. I believe every student can conquer that statistic. I attended a high school that graduated less than 50% of its students, which really inspired me to become a teacher. I did not want to see any more students fall through the cracks. When working with “at-risk students” in LA, I began to realize how much one adult could impact a student’s life. When working as a tutor and mentor, I supported students in and out of the classroom, both academically and emotionally. I got to know my students on a more personal level from being with them in class, at lunch, and after school. When a student has a trusted adult in their corner, they begin to try harder, gain confidence, and believe in themselves. I wanted to support students and help them reach their full potential as a teacher rather than a tutor.

After serving a year, I got my Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction and my Single-Subject Math Credential from the University of the Pacific, through Aspire Teacher Residency. I taught 7th grade for 2 years, 8th grade and Algebra 1 for a year, and then I began working at Samueli Academy. I have been teaching Integrated Math I and II here since 2017, and I love it! Samueli has been amazing since the day I interviewed here. The students make it so easy to teach, and the staff is so great to work and collaborate with. This school truly is a family, and I am so grateful to be a part of it. I can’t wait for what’s in store in the future.