“Gateway College and Career Academy offers students the chance to grow, to learn, and reach their potential through a dedicated group of educators that are ready and eager to help them navigate high school, college courses at Riverside City College, and post-secondary opportunities. I say this, knowing it is happening each day at Gateway.”
1. Why are you in education?
As a first generation-college student in my family, I leaned on the support I received from my AVID Coordinator and Counselor, Mrs. Griffin. She not only helped guide me through the application process, she gave me the time and attention I needed, to help me see my true potential. I knew then I wanted to do the same for others.
I have been fortunate through my educational career to get a chance. Going from selling shoes at the indoor, to having my own desk in an office, a direct phone line, and fancy business cards, I felt very lucky.
Fresh from my counseling program, I was given a chance at Gateway. I really believe, now more than ever, our youth need that chance. Our students deserve someone who believes in them, takes the time to invest and nurture their talents, so they too can see their true potential.
“At Gateway, we give our students the chance to find success, to nurture their talents, to invest in their educational pathway. I 100% believe our students come out of our program with a newfound understanding of all they can achieve.”
2. What are your goals for Gateway for 2020-2021 — including COVID and supporting BLM? And for the future?
“As a student advocate and as a Gateway staff member, our commitment is not only towards our student’s education, it is also to their safety, their sense of belonging, the right to be heard, and to model the type of community we want for our students now and in the future.”
My goals for 2020-2021 are to find better ways to engage our youth through remote learning. Since COVID, we have been forced to engage exclusively online. Everyone at Gateway is learning, re-creating, and finding new ways to provide the same level of support, curriculum, and individual attention our students receive on campus.
I have been so impressed with how Gateway has stepped up and the many ways we have done a great job of engaging our students. I want to focus on continuing to do the things that are working and to find ways to improve in the areas that are not.
Our students may not be able to control much around them right now, but we can do our best to engage in and support the experience they have at Gateway.
Since COVID, we have seen an increase in our students experiencing mental health issues and as a result, some are disengaging from school. I’m working to partner with a mental health and wellness support organization to offer online direct mental health services.
“I will continue my work strengthening my commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. As an educator, I condemn racism, hate, and intolerance. I stand with the Black Lives Matter movement. I stand with our students. “
3. What one thing would you tell prospective families about Gateway?
Gateway College and Career Academy offers students the chance to grow, to learn, and to reach their potential through a dedicated group of educators that are ready and eager to help them navigate high school, college courses at Riverside City College, and post-secondary opportunities. I say this, knowing it is happening each day at Gateway.
“Because of our small school size, we offer reliable, direct support to our students. We build strong relationships with our families and students and we provide educational pathways that align with each student’s unique educational goals. We are here for you and that is why you belong HERE.”
4. Tell us about yourself, your background and how you got to Gateway.
I was born and raised in Riverside and graduated from Ramona High School in 2003. I graduated from the University of California, Riverside in 2008 with a double major in Sociology and Chicano Studies and minored in Spanish. In 2012, I completed my master’s program in Counseling and Guidance at Cal State University, San Bernardino.
My work in education started in 2004 when I tutored for the AVID program at my former high school. In 2007, I started an intern position for Riverside County 1st District Supervisor Bob Buster as the Youth Advisory Council Coordinator. Working with 15-20 high school students, together we coordinated monthly volunteer activities, civic engagements, county-wide events and launched the Path to Success Tours.
These tours focused on 8th grade students learning about the importance of a college education through a one-day conference at UCR. In 2008, I coordinated the Student of the Year Recognition and scholarships for youth in the 1st District.
In September 2012, looking for hands on counseling experience, I found Upward Bound, an interactive, intensive pre-college experience designed to prepare students from low-income, first generation backgrounds for college.
I volunteered as a co- facilitator for a year with their Saturday Academy alongside Miguel Contreras, our current Executive Director. It was then that I learned about Gateway College and Career Academy. What Gateway stands for and the work they do with students, is exactly the place I wanted to start my counseling career.
This July marks my sixth year at Gateway and my 16th year working with today’s impressive youth. I am so grateful for the opportunity to innovate and create post-secondary education plans with our grads. I deeply value being part of the leadership team and our work carving growth and improvement for Gateway.
“I am so fortunate for my opportunity to empower our Gateway students towards their true potential each and every day. “
I am married to my wonderful husband Alexander and we have three beautiful and energetic boys, Aiden, Evan and Aaren.
Gateway College and Career Academy (formerly Gateway to College) is an early college public high school launched in 2004, as an answer to the growing number of students who were disconnected from their education and not on track to obtain their high school diplomas. Our highly qualified teaching and counseling staff supports and guides our students on their educational pathways, establishing a bond of trust and the motivation to make it to the finish line.
Riverside City College is an ideal partner, helping our students transition to college education via concurrent enrollment in GCCA and RCC, and giving access to all of the college’s resources and supports. You belong here!