1. How long have you been with St. HOPE? After serving three years in St. Louis, Missouri, I was fortunate enough to join St. HOPE in June 2016!

2. What is your commitment to urban education and why have you chose to work at SHPS?  Prior to joining Teach For America, I was completely naive to the achievement gap that exists in our country.  After deep-diving into the state of education in the US, I realized that it is my duty to serve the students in urban communities to ensure they receive the excellent education they deserve.  All students can learn and can achieve, and we must give them that opportunity.  I chose to continue this work at St. HOPE because California is my home and the place that I love. Being able to do this work here in Sacramento is so exciting because I am able to give back to the place that gave so much to me!

3. What are your greatest highlights in working in education? One of my greatest highlights from working in education has been seeing students who have been identified as having a learning difference achieve excellence in behavior, academics, and with their goals.  Also, the BEST thing about working in education is the relationships I have been to build with my scholars and their families.  These relationships have taught me so much more than I could have ever imagined or hoped for.

4. What book ( fiction or non-fiction) has influenced you the most? There are two books that have influenced me and my service.  The books are ‘Lost At School’ by Dr. Ross Greene and ‘The Art of Critical Pedagogy’ by Ernest Morrell and Jeffrey Michael Reyes Duncan-Andrade.