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| At the CTA Good Teaching Conference in San Jose, California |
My teaching journey began way before I entered the classroom officially. I remember the little chalkboard I had as a child, gathering neighborhood kids to "teach" in our backyard. Later, as a high school student, I volunteered as a literacy tutor at the Downey City Library, working with teens and adults who needed help reading. Those early experiences solidified my calling to teach. Then, during college, I worked as a Kindergarten aide, where I got a firsthand look at the magic and challenges of teaching. And right after that, I spent four amazing years traveling—visiting 38 countries and 20 states! That journey opened my eyes to so many cultures and perspectives that I still draw on today, creating a rich, multicultural learning environment in my classroom.
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| May 2014 Issue |
In 2022, I was honored to be appointed to the California State Board of Education. In this role, I get to bring a teacher’s voice directly into the conversation, influencing policies that shape our state’s education system. As a Board member, I help guide policies on everything from curriculum standards to equitable resources and student assessments. It's been such a rewarding experience to contribute to the decisions that impact California’s classrooms and to advocate for meaningful support for teachers and students across our state.
In my classroom, I strive to make learning vibrant, inclusive, and student-centered. When I started digging deeper into the Common Core Standards three years ago, I found they lined up well with my approach of project-based, writing-intensive learning. I was excited to be selected as part of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium back in 2012, where I developed performance tasks in Language Arts for the primary grades. Later, I worked on accessibility, bias, and sensitivity reviews for fourth- through sixth-grade math assessments. Those experiences gave me invaluable skills for designing differentiated instruction and assessments that meet my students’ unique needs.
One of my most fulfilling projects is the Common Core Café—a professional learning community I launched to bring teachers together to share strategies, resources, and ideas. The inspiration for this came from my time in the California Teachers Association (CTA) Leadership Cohort, where I was one of 24 teachers across the state chosen to develop a project supporting the implementation of the Common Core Standards. The Common Core Café became a space where teachers could connect and collaborate, discussing effective ways to implement these standards while enhancing their teaching practices through technology.
My professional growth continues through my involvement with the Instructional Leadership Corps (ILC), where I work alongside an incredible team of teachers, site leaders, and education experts. Together, we help educators implement California’s ELA, math, and science standards, presenting at conferences and local events to spread valuable insights and practices. Sharing our successes and challenges with other educators who are dedicated to student success is one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
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| At the NEA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. |
In 2014, I had the honor of being selected as a Smarter Balanced Teacher Ambassador by the National Education Association (NEA). This role allowed me to deepen my understanding of formative assessment as a tool for supporting student learning within the Common Core framework. It was thrilling to see my work featured in California Educator Magazine and to be recognized for the Common Core Café and my contributions to SBAC assessments.
The vision behind the Common Core Café has always been to empower teachers with resources, ideas, and strategies to make the most of the Common Core Standards. I truly believe that we, as teachers, learn the most from each other. My hope is that the Café becomes a virtual gathering place for educators across the nation—a space for us to share, inspire, and support one another as we guide our students toward success.
Thank you for stopping by! Whether you’re here for resources, inspiration, or a sense of community, I’m excited to connect and continue this journey of learning together.
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