Meet Crista Baisley (she/her), a 7th and 8th grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher at Carver Middle School. We recently connected to discuss her experiences after completing her first full year of teaching. Read more below. Crista always knew she was destined to become a teacher. Her struggles as an auditory learner in a mostly...
Meet Jacquelin Dang (she/they), an English and history teacher at Stevenson College and Career Preparatory. We spoke recently about their experience at Partnership’s annual Advocacy Days in Sacramento. Read more below. On Day One, Jacquelin felt a blend of anticipation and determination, ready to make their voice heard. Being surrounded by other champions for change...
Meet Andrew Anderson, an eighth grader at Markham Middle School. We connected to discuss his student experiences and recent participation in Partnership’s Advocacy Days in Sacramento, CA. Read more below. As the name implies, Partnership’s Advocacy Days gather community members to advocate for stronger education policies and practices to close opportunity and achievement gaps in...
Meet Diana Rios (she/her), visual arts teacher at 99th Street Elementary. She is the only full-time arts teacher in an elementary school in the LA Unified School District. We spoke with her recently about her passion and love for the arts and what it means to her to be the only fully-staffed arts teacher at...
Meet Edgardo Aceituno (he/him), Roosevelt High School Alum, current California State University, Fullerton Student. Learn more about his newfound love for learning below. From the heart of Boyle Heights and the son of Honduran immigrants, Edgardo Aceituno is a trailblazer. As the first in his family to attend college, Edgardo knows its importance and is...
More than 15 years ago, Henry Perez along with students and parents from InnerCity Struggle walked around Boyle Heights, knocking on doors to ask residents to sign a petition. The petition would be used to allow the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools to become external managers of some of the highest-need schools east of downtown...
Meet Maria Ortiz (she/her), an 8th-grade math teacher at Hollenbeck Middle School for 15 years. We spoke recently about her passion for empowering students through math and why she remains committed to her school community after many years. Maria’s journey into teaching was sparked by her childhood love for math and fueled by a determination...
Meet Emanuel Avila (he/him), an 8th-grade student at Hollenbeck Middle School. We connected to discuss how his math teacher’s instructional approach influenced his newfound appreciation for the subject. Read more below. Initially, math did not captivate Emanuel’s interest. He preferred his English classes and was interested in refining his writing skills. That began to change...
Randy Romero is one of few individuals who has experienced both facets of the Partnership’s work to transform and strengthen school systems. He was formerly a teacher and principal at two network schools, Math, Science, and Technology Magnet Academy at Roosevelt High School and Hollenbeck Middle School, and currently serves as the chief schools officer...
Meet the dynamic duo, Victoria Vargas (she/her) (bottom, left) and Kimberly Marin-Rodriguez (she/her) (top, left), both eighth-graders at Hollenbeck Middle School. Together, with their guitars, they are weaving melodies and building lasting memories. Their shared love for mariachi music has not only created a harmonious friendship but has also shaped their middle school experience. Kimberly’s...
Meet Arias Williams (he/him), a biology teacher at Santee Education Complex, who also serves as a mentor in the Partnership’s teacher residency program with the Alder Graduate School of Education. We spoke recently about his experience as a teacher mentor and his commitment to assisting new educators in honing their skills. Read more below. Arias...
With 25 years of experience in education, Yumi Kawasaki is the proud principal at Edwin Markham Middle School in Watts. Hailing from a family of educators in Mexico, Yumi’s path to becoming a principal was not linear. “I like to say it chose me,” she explains. Initially, she ventured into the field of psychology, thinking...
