Hi! My name is Kristen, and I am an Engagement Coach with IQLA. My primary role is to support our MKV and foster students. I graduated from UC San Diego with a BA in Language Studies and I started my career in the ABA field where I learned to appreciate the value of educating families as they support their child’s development. I have also spent several years working directly with students as a substitute teacher in my local school district. In my free time, I love to go camping with my family, exercise, listen to ALL of the audiobooks, and spend time with my husband, kiddos, and friends. 

Hi! My name is Joanna Cruz. I graduated from California State University Long Beach and I am a graduate student continuing my education journey for school counseling. I’m passionate about helping all students feel heard and supported, and I want to guide them in the right direction to succeed, not just in school but in life.

I’m also a proud big sister. With a significant age gap between us, I work hard every day to set a strong example. My sisters inspire me to keep growing, learn, and push forward. I believe in setting goals that support both personal and professional growth.

Outside of school and work, I enjoy doing adventurous things and always encourage others to step out of their comfort zone. I love running, going to the gym, and watching movies in my free time. I hope my charisma and positive attitude leave a lasting impression on the students I work with.

A fun fact about me is that I’ve been skydiving twice, and I’m definitely up for a third jump!

Hi! My name is Amanda and I am an Engagement Coach here at IQLA. I have a degree in Early Childhood Education and have spent most of my years in education as a preschool teacher! I am married to my wonderful husband who is in the U.S. Army and we have two boys, who I homeschool! Most of my time outside of work is spent with my sweet family. We love to find local events to attend, as well as going on adventures to amusement parks (Disneyland is my favorite)! I am a major foodie and I love to eat. My family and I even have special food themed get togethers! My heart is in education and I am so happy to be here working with our wonderful families! 

Hello! My name is Andrea Lopez and I'm an Engagement Coach for iQLA. I began my journey with iQLA as a Student Support Specialist were I was able to help students individually, now as an Engagement Coach not only do I help students individually but also families which is very important to me. On my days off I enjoy spending time with my family by going out on walks, getting food, or going to our local zoo. 

Hello! I am excited to be part of the IQ Connect team as an Engagement Coach. I began my journey in IQLA in 2020 as a Bilingual Student Support Specialist. I discovered my love for education and this school through my 12 years’ experience as my children’s Learning Coach. I love supporting students and parents, making them feel welcome, and watching the children discover how valuable and capable of reaching their own potential they are. I believe in the positive impact that SEL integration in our work has on the lives of our students and in our communities. In addition, I also love STEM and share the excitement of learning so many wonderful and interesting things. I am grateful of being part of IQ Academy and the opportunity to work with caring and professional people every day to give the best for our students. 

Hello! I am an alumni of UMASS, Amherst with a BA in History, and from UCLA with my Master's in Education. I have been working with youth since 1999, as a tutor, classroom teacher, mentor, camp counselor, program director, and more. I love supporting and inspiring students to find their life path, and then helping them fulfill it. Families and students please contact me, even if it seems small. I value our relationship, and I believe that the more we communicate, the better things will be.  Take care and talk soon! Peace and best wishes :)

Hello! I’m Christina DeCaro and I am an IQConnect Engagement Coach. Some fun facts about me are that I have attended more than 20 live concerts, I collect a ton of records and manga, and I have watched a lot of different anime. I’ve also worked for CAVA and IQLA since 2021. After I graduated from UCSD with a degree in psychology, I found a lot of joy in supporting students through education with social-emotional learning. The students, families, and staff at this school have taught me so much about the importance of community and connection. I truly believe that a student’s support team can help them build strong foundations for a successful future after high school.  I am committed to creating more safe and welcoming spaces for all students and families this year. I’m so excited to work with you!

Hi! I’m Rola Eldanaf, an Engagement Coach here at iQLA. I hold a bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing, along with an MFA from California State University, Long Beach. I’m passionate about building meaningful connections with students and equipping them with the support and tools they need to thrive as virtual learners.

Outside of work, I cherish time with my husband and children: we love baking sourdough, taking walks, and cozying up to classic I Love Lucy episodes. I'm also an aspiring children's picture book author, currently revising several manuscripts with the dream that one of my stories will become a beloved bedtime favorite.

Jillian has a degree from Kent State University in computer science and has education ongoing for a bachelor’s in education. She made a jump from banking to education in 2017 starting as a special needs aide and fell in love with the education field. She has been with K12 since spring of 2021 and strives to help students in their individual goals. Her joy is being able to spark creativity and interest in students in their own education. She believes that creating a welcoming space is essential to fostering children’s learning potential. 

Hi! My name is Lauryn, and I am an Engagement Intervention Coach at IQLA.  I’ve worked with children in different capacities for almost 6 years and I’m currently attending school for my B.S in Educational Studies. I love working in education and believe in the holistic care of students so they thrive in all areas of their lives. 

Hi! I’m Sophia Kalugin, an Onboarding Coach with a degree in Cinema and Media Arts from Biola University. Although my background is in film, I’ve found that working in education is a wonderful place to apply my creativity and people-focused skills. I’m deeply passionate about helping students feel confident in their ability to succeed in online school. Outside of work, you can find me giving studio tours at Warner Bros., working on creative projects, bouldering, making jewelry, or spending time with my dog, Sullivan.