When learning is designed to connect, understanding follows — for every student, in every classroom.

My first job out of college, teaching in Oakland, quickly illuminated how a quality education sets children up for a life of choice and opportunity. With no curriculum, students were at the mercy of teachers with little…

My first job out of college, teaching in Oakland, quickly illuminated how a quality education sets children up for a life of choice and opportunity. With no curriculum, students were at the mercy of teachers with little expertise in design or standards alignment. Later, at districts like Long Beach Unified, I saw how a guaranteed viable curriculum across classrooms and grades drove equity and access for all students. These experiences fuel my passion to ensure all students have access to an excellent curriculum, no matter their zip code, school, or teacher.

For me, creativity is a form of practical problem-solving. While I love traditional art forms, my personal artistic self comes out when I’m given a big objective and set loose to design the setting and the process for…

For me, creativity is a form of practical problem-solving. While I love traditional art forms, my personal artistic self comes out when I’m given a big objective and set loose to design the setting and the process for creation. I thrive on those initial parameters—the resources, the vision, the timeline—because they give me the framework to start building. I’m energized by the detective work of hunting for solutions, the flow of seeing a process click into place, and the ultimate satisfaction of bringing a great curriculum product to life.

I’ve always considered myself a reader and a writer, but for most of my life I thought of these as solitary pursuits. School reinforced that idea again and again. Reading was something you did quietly with a book, and writing…

I’ve always considered myself a reader and a writer, but for most of my life I thought of these as solitary pursuits. School reinforced that idea again and again. Reading was something you did quietly with a book, and writing was something you produced alone and then handed in for a grade. It wasn’t until I came to Inquiry By Design that I began to understand that the true power of reading and writing lay in social and collaborative practices that open conversation, build community, and deepen understanding.

If I could give my younger self advice about learning, it would be to read stories from different genres, authors, and lived experiences. Reading Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake completely changed my perspective on reading,…

If I could give my younger self advice about learning, it would be to read stories from different genres, authors, and lived experiences. Reading Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake completely changed my perspective on reading, learning, and empathy. It was the first time I saw myself reflected in a character’s struggles, and it ignited my passion to seek out stories I could relate to and those that offered a window to learn about other people’s lives and passions. It was the first book that made me audibly gasp in public (in a quiet library!).

In high school, an English teacher made me feel genuinely seen and valued, which was such a comfort during a time when I felt a bit lost and misunderstood. That experience lit a fire in me, leading me from teaching to…

In high school, an English teacher made me feel genuinely seen and valued, which was such a comfort during a time when I felt a bit lost and misunderstood. That experience lit a fire in me, leading me from teaching to supporting other teachers, and now to creating something I hope will make their lives enormously easier. I believe students deserve instructional materials that help them feel the same sense of connection and possibility I once felt, and I’m grateful every day to play a part in making that happen.

Books have always been door-openers for me, and I want students to feel that same rush of possibility when a story speaks to them. One of my favorite things is when a student says, “I never thought of it that way before.”…

Books have always been door-openers for me, and I want students to feel that same rush of possibility when a story speaks to them. One of my favorite things is when a student says, “I never thought of it that way before.” Watching them connect their own experiences to a story keeps me passionate about this work.

Reading and writing have always helped me make sense of the world, and that love led me to the classroom. While teaching, I witnessed firsthand how powerful it is when students see themselves in the texts they read and have…

Reading and writing have always helped me make sense of the world, and that love led me to the classroom. While teaching, I witnessed firsthand how powerful it is when students see themselves in the texts they read and have the tools to tell their own stories. As a curriculum writer, I work to bring those experiences to more classrooms.

As a literacy and language teacher, my proudest accomplishment has been getting students to understand the value of reading and writing, not just in the classroom, but beyond. My students learned the importance of clear…

As a literacy and language teacher, my proudest accomplishment has been getting students to understand the value of reading and writing, not just in the classroom, but beyond. My students learned the importance of clear communication, and the doors it would open for them. Whether in their studies, their personal lives, or in the professional realm, students learned that reading and writing are the key to making the world a more just and equitable place, for themselves and others.

As a teenager navigating questions of identity and belonging, I found support in three sources: my English teacher, my school librarian, and books. Those experiences inspired me to become a teacher myself—to help young people…

As a teenager navigating questions of identity and belonging, I found support in three sources: my English teacher, my school librarian, and books. Those experiences inspired me to become a teacher myself—to help young people see themselves in stories, to offer guidance through times of transition, and to create a classroom where everyone feels they belong. More than a decade later, those same goals continue to ground my work in education.

I came to the U.S. as a newcomer student, learning English while trying to keep up in a system that often felt unfamiliar and overwhelming. I remember understanding far more than I could express and feeling frustrated when I…

I came to the U.S. as a newcomer student, learning English while trying to keep up in a system that often felt unfamiliar and overwhelming. I remember understanding far more than I could express and feeling frustrated when I could not fully share my thinking, and at times being misunderstood because of it. Those experiences shaped how I see teaching and learning and led me to become a bilingual educator. They are also why I find so much joy in the work I do today, making learning more accessible for all students. Outside of my work, I love spending time in nature, which reminds me to slow down, stay curious, and keep learning.