I was born and raised on the east coast in Virginia, but I've grown to love and call Southern California my home. Prior to teaching, I was a grant writer at a nonprofit health and human services organization that assisted at-risk homeless children and families. Having witnessed the power of education, I pursued my Masters in TESOL while juggling an administrative job at the University of California, Irvine. I was fortunate to graduate as valedictorian in my program and went on immediately to teach children and adults. With my background in English and Film Media Studies, I love to bring the magical power of cinema and visuals into classroom. While I am serious about education, I love to make my students laugh because I believe a happy teaching atmosphere is equally as important as the instruction. Currently, I'm teaching at NOCE, Saddleback College, and Golden West College. I live with my two children (my dog and tortoise), and in my free time, I enjoy watching movies, going on hiking, cooking, and training in jiu jitsu.