About Me

I am excited to be teaching at Berendo Middle School in Los Angeles this year.  I am teaching 7th grade life science and health and 8th grade physical science.  I am really passionate about urban teaching and hope to make a difference in the community.

I grew up in Claremont, California.  Claremont is a college town in east LA County. I always loved school growing up and would make my grandma play "school" with me all the time. I was always in love with math and science. I truly feel head over heels for science in my AP Biology class senior year of high school. I realized I love the brain, DNA, and everything biology really. I graduated as the valedictorian from Claremont High School.

Growing up, I did ballet for 17 years. I spent three summers in New York City dancing at the Joffrey Ballet School. I danced with Inland Pacific Ballet Company for four years in Southern California. I have been in productions of the Nutcracker, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Dracula, Coppelia, and many more. I still dance some, and love to perform.

I graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering and a minor in education.  I did research with Evan Fletcher on the effects of aging on the brain.  I presented my research at the Undergraduate Research Conference and my honors thesis was published in Explorations, the undergraduate research journal. I was a part of the Integrated Studies Honors Program and received the Regent's Scholarship.  I worked at the bookstore on campus for two and a half years as a cashier and sales clerk. I also worked on staff at the Newman Center for three years and was in charge of the staff for one of those years. With the Newman Center, I planned events and helped attract students.

I started at UCLA's Center X Impact Program in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. I am getting my teaching credential and masters in urban teaching.  As I said, I am very excited to be working for an inner city social and working on social justice issues.