For more on holiday mental health support, visit NAMI.

It is that time of year when we celebrate that for which we are thankful, and we attempt to spread some joy. That is what our induction candidates are doing right now. While they are finishing parent-teacher conferences, planning for the last few weeks of school before winter break, and completing their TPA or ILP, they are also considering the support their mentors have given them in these endeavors.

For mentors, the job of induction is a work of heart - while candidates have ILPs and TPAs, the mentors must provide the support needed by each candidate, and much like students, every candidate is different. Our mentors absolutely rise to the occasion. In addition to their own teaching, mentors spend time with candidates, gather materials, arrange observations, listen, consult, model lessons, collaborate, and attend meetings to become more effective mentors. It is such a crucial job, and they are amazing individuals! Therefore, over the next few months, I will be including messages of gratitude from our candidates to our mentors.

We’re excited to share that the California Department of Education (CDE) is offering the Gift of Literacy by partnering with Renaissance Learning to ensure that every California student can access thousands of engaging digital reading resources for free during winter break by visiting www.myon.com. 

Students who are not already reading with myON may participate in this exciting partnership by following these simple steps to log in and start reading:

On December 3, the United Nations celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). This annual celebration that began in 1992 promotes the rights and well-being of people with disabilities worldwide. Learn more HERE.

Managing Emotions in Times of Stress and uncertainty is a FREE course offered by Yale University. Starts December 2. Developed by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty & Stress will provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to understand and manage their emotions and those of their students. The 10-hour online course is designed for school staff, including teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, principals, and non-teaching staff in preK-12 schools. What You Will Learn:

How long have you worked in TUSD? I started working as a Coordinator of Equity Initiatives in TUSD this November but I have been connected with the district much longer. I graduated from THS in 2013 and worked as a Community Liaison for Julien elementary school in 2017.

What is your job title? Coordinator of Equity Initiatives

Where did you work prior to TUSD? Prior to TUSD, I worked as the lead counselor at ACE Charter High school in East San Jose, in the same neighborhood where I attended elementary school and middle school. There, I wore multiple hats. Among the many, I coordinated the college access programs at the high school, worked closely with families, teachers and partners and provided differentiated advising and counseling services to students.

Things you are most proud of? I am most proud of my students and their growth. Year after year I had the honor of witnessing students grow and accomplish so much even in the face of adversity. In my previous work as a counselor and college advisor, the most inspiring aspect of my job was seeing my students light up when they were accepted to their dream schools or selected for prestigious scholarships and programs, all while their families stood by them, knowing that many of them were the firsts to explore these opportunities in higher education.

Challenges? I think my passion for equity and social justice stems from the many challenges I faced in my own journey through education. As a student, I had many odds stacked against me. English was my second language, I was chronically absent, and in my early education I had challenging experiences with educators who had limiting beliefs about the abilities and potential of my peers and I. I saw my family and classmates pushed into the school-to-prison pipeline and consistently heard the narratives and stereotypes that perpetuated this trend.

Outside of school, my family struggled with food and housing insecurity, violence in our community and a never-ending struggle that felt debilitating. In a constant state of survival, I never considered higher education. The biggest challenge for me was believing in myself enough to push through all of these barriers and maintain hope that education is the great liberator to break from the cycle I was brought up in. Now I get to help others do the same with the ultimate goal of eradicating these barriers for future generations.

Favorite memory/story? One of my favorite memories is from a time when I worked in the fields here in the Central Valley. I had just graduated from high school and needed to earn money to pay for some of my college expenses. I remember sitting under a large trailer in the shade with my cuadrilla/crew after a full day of shoveling weeds in the blazing hot sun. One of my teammates, a mother of three, approached me and gave me a hug. She knew I was leaving for college in a few weeks. Seeing how exhausted I was, she said to me, “Estudia, por que un lápiz pesa menos que una pala” which translates to Study, because a pencil weighs less than a shovel”. Those are the words I took with me to help me navigate the new territory of higher education. I’ve been grateful for that experience ever since.

What are you reading? I am currently re-reading one of my favorite books called Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Maree Brown. This book explores the concept of emergence which the author defines as “the way complex systems and patterns arise out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions." This book has taught me a lot about the power of relationship-building in the process of creating strong communities.

Any favorite shows you’re watching on TV? I recently finished watching Colin in Black and White on Netflix. I appreciated the visibility the show gave to the realities many communities face across the country and the effort to educate viewers about important issues such as microaggressions and structural racism.

Fave movies? I love all Marvel movies, I’ve watched almost all of them with my younger brother who knows so much about the Marvel universe.

Anything surprising we may not know about you? I have many interests. When I become passionate about a topic/hobby, I invest a lot of time expanding my knowledge about it. Some of my interests and hobbies include propagating plants, weightlifting, crystals and stones, physics, astrology, fashion trends and analyzing sounds and lyrics in music.

Fun Facts: I am a fur mom to four dogs! I love anything involving nature and travel. In the last year, I have listened to over 60 podcasts.