Hello, People tend to want to know "about you". Although I'm not a big believer in the practice of needing to know "about" a person in order to respect them as a human being or honour them for their natural gifts and presence, I am critically aware that for a variety of reasons, in our corner of the world, a person's "credentials" matter to outsiders looking in.
So, about me... I am not a California native. My parents are islanders of Puerto Rico and I am a first generation NewYorican from Brooklyn - and as I age I miss my Cleveland Street fire hydrants more and more. I was brought to California at the age of 10, but I know now that by that time, in my mental and social development, my roots were well planted in New York soil.
My paternal grandmother was my primary caregiver and all I learned about my mother was her name, her possible hair color and that her eyes were blue. My father was never too far away, as his ties were to his mother. But having remarried with a son of their own, his own ghosts of his past and his alcoholism he never really played the father role. The times I remember him "being dad" was when he had to attend a school event. The rest of the times it was weekend "cookouts", dominoes or cards, Parliaments, and Budweiser, because you can't have a family gathering or a meal without the Parliaments and Budweiser. With the drinking came a lot of other things that children need not be a part of, but I was. Mostly because in my naivete I thought that I could save my father from whatever demons made him the man he was. It took me many, many years and experiences to realize that people are people and they are who they are and I just need to accept them with what they bring. And, whether or not they are invited to break bread is up to me.
Emancipation for me came at the age of 15, when I married a boy I met in high school and thought it was forever after. Yes. This was in California. No. I was not pregnant. My first child came to me at the age of 17. Then my second husband. Then two more children. As I reflect on having lived through these stages, at one point I realized that by the age of 25 I had lived into and through one abusive relationship after another. In those moments, we are just pushing through much of what is happening. At some point we make a choice. My choice and my life's experiences have brought me here, to where I stand today, with you reading About Me - whether it is 2024 or 2054, my choices and life's experiences have and will continue to guide my path.
The choice to continue my education, for me and for my children (and now grandchildren) continues to sustain me. This choice would introduce me to other forms of "abuse" in bringing to the forefront of my mind the "fact" that, in the eyes of social circles, I was a number of things: 1) Hispanic; 2) Female; 3) A Single Mother; 4) Divorced; 5) A "Victim" of Abuse; 6) A High School DROPOUT; 7) Hispanic; 8) Female. 9) Not a member of which ever circle found itself fit to judge.
These "facts" however were kindling to my spirit, not a source of self-pity, and everytime I was reminded of any of them the fire within warmed my soul.
I attended Occidental College, where I earned my AB, went onto CalState Los Angeles to earn my Teaching Credential and then to CalState Northridge for my MAEd. and Administrative Credential. All the while, a single parent, working a full time teaching job and remaining as active as possible in my children's school with PTA, school functions, and of course sports. My first teaching job was with LAUSD in 2000 as a Special Education teacher in what was known then as a Special-Day Class. I taught that group for a few years, moved into single-subject history, a Dean of Discipline role and ultimately began my administrative career with Charter Schools once I received my MAEd. and Administrative Credential. My children still recall attending classes with me at Glendale College, sleeping under tables at the Occidental College library or driving out to Timbuktu for night class while I cleared my Administrative Credential.
Here we are, 24 years later, at TEACH Public Schools. When I became the Principal of TEACH Academy of Technologies in 2019 my goal was to bring into being the promise our Founders wrote into it's Charter Petition. It's a big promise, but it had a road map and I was intent on walking that path to get to the end of the road of preparing our children for their future. I've since taken on another role here at TEACH, one that I felt allowed me to focus my actions in a direction that would help all of the other "ground pounders" that do the heavy lifting each day - our parents, our students and our staff and teachers. With all change comes challenge. The challenge of my change has been the distance from the front-line of service. That distance risks the creation of disconnect, miscommunication and a lack of trust. Hence, this page. It is my hope that by learning a little bit "about me" that the little bit is enough to create a space of understood committment, transparency, shared experiences and the ability to work "together" towards our greater vision. I've always welcomed folks "in my circle" to reach out to me and any of you can continue to do so. Below is a convenient method, but I am also available via phone call, text message or in person. Thank you for your time.