From my earliest years, I have had two main passions in life: the creative arts and helping others reach their fullest potential. Whether it was explaining to my fourth-grade peers that showing, not telling, the reader what happens in a story makes it more exciting to emailing students personalized feedback notes instead of standard rejection letters while editor-in-chief of my college's literary arts magazine, these two loves truly developed in tandem throughout my young adulthood. I knew that my calling in life was to become an English teacher, and every day spent in the classroom with my students further solidifies this belief.
Before beginning Cal Lutheran's teacher preparation program in 2016, I worked for five years at an individualized learning center working with K-12 students in reading and math, volunteered as a mentor in a program for students with autism spectrum disorders, and served as a mentor for GATE students from local elementary schools that were interested in creative writing. During my student teaching, I taught seventh grade here at Los Cerritos Middle School with Mrs. Kay and tenth grade and AP Literature at Royal High School in Simi Valley. As I head into my fourth year teaching and serving as the English Department Chair at Los Cerritos, my experiences have affirmed my belief that all students deserve to access rigorous, well-paced, and personalized instruction that teaches them critical thinking skills needed for college, careers, and beyond.
Growing Up
Although this will not surprise my students, I was quite the geek growing up. I was born and raised here in sunny Southern California and attended school in the Santa Clarita Valley before graduating from California State University, Bakersfield with an English degree in 2016. In middle school and high school, I was involved in my schools’ music programs and was a member of my high school’s Academic Decathlon team. Where my “coolness factor” lacked, I made up for in the sense of purpose and community that taking leadership roles in these organizations provided.
Growing Up
Although this will not surprise my students, I was quite the geek growing up. I was born and raised here in sunny Southern California and attended school in the Santa Clarita Valley before graduating from California State University, Bakersfield with an English degree in 2016. In middle school and high school, I was involved in my schools’ music programs and was a member of my high school’s Academic Decathlon team. Where my “coolness factor” lacked, I made up for in the sense of purpose and community that taking leadership roles in these organizations provided.
I have known that I wanted to become an English teacher since the tenth grade. My tenth grade (and AP Literature) teacher, Mr. Evans, was one of the most influential educators in my life, and in his class is where I not only learned valuable critical thinking and writing skills but also developed my sense of self and empowerment through our literature studies and discussions. I strive to bring the same experience to my students and believe that English class should be a place for student-centered collaboration, creation, and action.
Personal Life
As an only child, I am very close to my extended family, and I enjoy taking our summer trips to the lake and spending the holidays cooking together and participating in our fiercely competitive annual Pictionary game. I come from a family of educators; my mom, uncle, and aunt are all active members of the education community, and my grandma just retired after decades in the middle school classroom.
Personal Life
As an only child, I am very close to my extended family, and I enjoy taking our summer trips to the lake and spending the holidays cooking together and participating in our fiercely competitive annual Pictionary game. I come from a family of educators; my mom, uncle, and aunt are all active members of the education community, and my grandma just retired after decades in the middle school classroom.
Outside of the education world, I write creative nonfiction and poetry, hike, volunteer for local conservation groups, and run around after my puppy, Cosmo. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family, whether it’s having coffee together, going to arts events, or going wherever the latest Groupon deals lead us.
Favorites
Classic Books
Young Adult Authors
Movies
Restaurants
Local Hikes
Shopping
Favorites
Classic Books
- Don Quixote, Self Reliance, and Pride and Prejudice
Young Adult Authors
- J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, and Judy Blume
Movies
- STAR WARS, The Princess Bride, and Napoleon Dynamite
Restaurants
- Malibu Seafood, Los Agaves, and P.F. Chang’s
Local Hikes
- Malibu Creek and Wildwood
Shopping
- Anthropologie, Ikea, and Target