BIOGRAPHY

Growing up in a family of educators, I always had my parent’s guidance as I navigated school and eventually pursued a higher education. They instilled in me a desire to support populations who lacked access to the same guidance I received on almost a daily basis.  I have vivid memories of my mom carefully coordinating parent workshops in Spanish to ensure all families at her Title 1 School were informed and involved in their child’s education.  My dad, a university professor and Mexican immigrant, often spoke at my mom’s workshops and other local family engagement events, teaching parents how to be involved in their child’s education despite possible language and cultural barriers. These were only a few memories from a lifetime full of experiences that made me passionate about providing students and their families with equal access to information and the guidance they deserved to navigate our school systems.

My post secondary educational journey began at the University of San Diego, where I earned an undergraduate degree in Ethnic Studies and later returned to earn a Master’s in Counseling with a specialization in School Counseling. I also earned a Master’s in College Counseling and Student Development from Azusa Pacific University.  Prior to working at EJE, I was at Hoover High School in City Heights, where I coordinated two college access programs through Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. My job there was to support 9-12th grade students and their families as they navigated high school and college requirements and connected them to careers in healthcare and science. Along the way, I gained additional experience working as an independent college consultant with My Pathway to College, LLC.

I joined the EJEA team in early 2017 as its first Alumni Counselor and later AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Coordinator, supporting and advocating for EJE Middle Academy students and graduates as they pursue and complete an education beyond high school.  During my time at EJEA I have had the privilege of guiding our students, graduates and their immediate and extended family members as they plan for their future. We have accomplished so much during my 3 years at EJEA, including the establishment of the Alumni Center, a designated space on campus where graduates and members of the EJEA community can meet with me or one of our community partners to be connected to local college and career resources. The creation of the Alumni Center made a significant impact on the EJEA community, and we saw a need for more support in order to continue growing and expanding the services offered to families. In 2018, I successfully submitted a proposal to the Girard Foundation to provide us with additional funding to hire a Parent Coordinator to assist me in the Alumni Center, allowing us to offer more resources to parents including additional workshops and family counseling. With her support, I meet with every 8th grade family to guide them through the high school selection and registration process, ensuring the students select the best fit and most rigorous high school course work so they have the option of attending a four year university after high school.

I am proud to be a part of the EJEA community and am honored our graduates and their parents come to me for guidance with major decisions about their future. The relationships we build with our families motivates me to continue advocating for them and ensuring they have all the necessary tools to successfully navigate their child’s educational journey.  As each 8th grade cohort graduates and transitions out of EJE, I look forward to seeing what the future holds for them.