In my previous roles as a Senior Manager of Training for the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, Curriculum Professional Development Manager for Families In Schools, Education Program Manager for Citizenship Counts, Program Manager and State Coordinator for the Center for Civic Education, and Master Trainer for the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education, I have been responsible for standardizing best practices, updating and developing curriculum, seminar materials and collaterals, and developing and conducting professional development modules and workshops for a wide range of stakeholders including school, district, county, and agency staff; parents; teachers and community members. I have also been responsible for administering statewide law related/civic engagement programs, developing mentoring opportunities, volunteer coordination and management, and creating opportunities for professional collaboration between schools, community, organization and civic leaders.

Among our demands was an end to corporal punishment for speaking Spanish in class, and the inclusion of bilingual and ethnic studies.

I am deeply proud to have been a part of a student movement that raised public consciousness and awareness of the inequities in our public schools, and one that is the legacy reflected in today’s student movement. Then as now, we have a moral urgency to ensure that all students receive a quality education no matter their zip code. I am fortunate to be the first in my family to earn a college degree. I hold a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University Los Angeles, and went on to University of Southern California for my graduate studies.

Prior to my time at FIS, I worked as a School Counselor in Los Angeles Unified School District, and as an Academic Advisor with the federally funded TRIO Programs based at the University of Southern California.

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Master’s Degree in Education-Counseling from the University of Southern California, as well as a Pupil Personnel Services Credential (P.P.S.).

I have been working in the field of education, specifically college and career readiness, for over 17 years.  I know what a difference having access to, and being prepared for, higher education can make in someone’s life.  I am a first-generation college student myself, and I am passionate about giving back, and helping others to support our families that need it most.

We also provide direct technical assistance to LEA teams to coach and assist them as they seek to grow and improve their parent engagement practices, giving parents an authentic voice in partnerships with their school leaders.

I’m passionate about working with families, schools, and school districts to build support for today’s students. Our schools can and need to do better. Whether it’s training school staff to support families and students, or creating curriculums to build the capacity of parents to support their child, I am committed to doing my best every day to ensure that our students have the opportunities for success that they deserve.

My position morphed into a Community Relations role where I have been entitled to a $75-$125k budget supervising education campaigns where I work with over 100 educational institutions throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area. The best part about it is that I get to interact with all of the families and community members face-to-face.

When I am not at Families In Schools taking care of super awesome projects, I am writing. When I am not writing, I am probably reading or catching up on my Netflix, Hulu or PBS cue. Sometimes a stretch is needed so walks to the park and hikes are essential to my wellbeing.

I facilitated numerous student and parent workshops, similar to those that my mother received when she was a student. Working directly with families is one of my greatest passions along with serving the community I grew up in. I want all students and families to have all the essential tools to make college a reality for them. My goal is to give back the priceless information II was once given.

Initially I attended Los Angeles Trade Technical College with a goal of a trade certification, however after establishing relationships with a few mentors and being selected for an outreach program my ambitions changed, and I attended the University of Southern California. My experiences in my chosen profession as well as my varied jobs before my post-secondary education has proven useful on many occasions. I hope with my small contribution to the mission of Families in Schools I can pass on what others have given to me and help others exceed their initial goals.

Prior to joining FIS, she worked as a professional expert in college advising and admissions for the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs at UCLA. She managed and coordinated the implementation of student-centered activities, conducted training workshops for undergraduate students, parents, teachers, and counselors on admission requirements, academic advisement, and college readiness. For eight years, she was part of UCLA’s Undergraduate Admission’s reader team. She also has worked with a variety of community organizations throughout Los Angeles to implement educational projects for families, teachers, and counselors. She has 20 years experience in the field of program design/management, professional development, parent/student engagement, curriculum development, college admissions, and academic advising.