Single Subject-Social Studies / Bilingual Authorization & MA in Curriculum and Instruction

Jaime is a proud Mexican-American graduate who deeply values his heritage. As the first in his family to graduate from college, he sees this achievement as a significant milestone. Born in Santa Maria, California, Jaime has always lived in this vibrant region and resides in Nipomo. He attended local schools in the Lucia Mar Unified School District, further connecting him to the community and San Luis Obispo County, where his roots are firmly planted. He comes from a family of immigrants; his father is from Jalisco, Mexico, and his mother is from Durango. Jaime has a strong connection to his cultural background and a deep appreciation for the importance of family and education. 

He began his academic journey at Allan Hancock College, dedicating three years there before transferring to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in English. His commitment to language is evident in his proficiency in English and Spanish, having also earned a degree in Spanish during his time at Allan Hancock College. As a future educator, Jaime is passionate about making a meaningful impact in his students' lives. He strives to relate to his students by sharing aspects of his life, particularly his experiences with Spanish as his first language and his journey dealing with learning disabilities like dyslexia. He hopes to connect with students facing similar obstacles by being open about his challenges. Jaime's philosophy is to be like a Swiss army knife of support—ready to help and engage with his students. He aims to build community in the classroom, allowing students to feel understood and encouraged to accomplish their goals.

Multiple Subject / Bilingual Authorization & MA in Curriculum and Instruction

Ana is a first-generation Mexican American student. Her parents are from the Mexican states of Jalisco and Zacatecas. Although originally from Van Nuys, CA, Ana has resided in Santa Maria since the third grade. 

After graduating from Pioneer Valley High School in 2019, Ana began her higher education at Fresno State. She later decided to return to Santa Maria and enrolled at Allan Hancock College. While at Allan Hancock College, Ana worked as a Bilingual Instructional Assistant for the Santa Maria Bonita School District.

After completing her general education at Allan Hancock, Ana transferred to Cal Poly SLO to complete a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Spanish. While at Cal Poly, Ana was actively involved in Nuestra Ciencia, a group of undergraduate students and professors dedicated to creating microbiology lessons in Spanish for students from dual immersion schools. She took on various roles within Nuestra Ciencia, including serving as a class teacher's assistant (T.A).
Additionally, she was involved in Frost and BEACoN research as part of Nuestra Ciencia. Ana's dedication to Nuestra Ciencia earned her two awards at Cal Poly: the Learn By Doing Good Award for Leadership and a Community Leadership award in the Liberal Studies Department.

Ana enjoys reading and spending time with her family when she is not studying. She also loves going to Disneyland, Dodger Stadium, and concerts. From a young age, she knew she wanted to become a teacher. In elementary school, she would help other teachers during her recess. She believes that every child can learn with the proper support. She enjoys building connections with students and their families. She wants to give back to the community in which she grew up.  She is excited to be one step closer to becoming a teacher and hopes to teach in Santa Maria soon.

Master of Science in Special Education / Education Specialist

Josh grew up in the Bay Area, California. He worked in high-tech for many years, including at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, a Google software startup, and founded and sold a software services corporation with branch offices in the Philippines. Josh then earned a master’s degree at Vanderbilt University and taught computer science, STEM, and social-emotional learning (SEL) to elementary students in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. His experience teaching SEL and becoming a father of two young girls, Cora Kathryn, and Kinzie Sandra, inspired his decision to become a special education teacher. Josh now resides with his wife and two daughters in Atascadero, CA.

Multiple Subject / Bilingual Authorization & MA in Curriculum and Instruction

Lezly from Santa Maria is dedicated to pursuing a career in elementary education. Growing up, school was like a second home to her, where she spent long hours in after-school programs and extracurricular activities. Surrounded by supportive teachers and adults, she experienced a warm, nurturing environment that profoundly influences her teaching philosophy today.

Lezly has gained valuable experience in leadership roles. She has worked as the Site Coordinator for the ASES after-school program at an elementary school in Santa Maria-Bonita School District. She is the Assistant Director at the Boys and Girls  Club in Santa Maria. She is committed to fostering academic and social-emotional growth in her students while nurturing creativity through her love of art and bilingual learning. Lezly’s journey as a first-generation Cal Polytechnic SLO graduate fuels her dedication to giving back to her community. Fluent in Spanish and learning Mixteco, she aims to connect with and support families in her area. Lezly hopes to "water her roots" by teaching in her hometown of Santa Maria and, later in life, in Mexico.

Multiple Subject / Bilingual Authorization & MA in Curriculum and Instruction

Brian is dedicated to a career as an educator in his community of Santa Maria. His passion for education originates from his childhood memories as a student in his hometown of Wilmington, California, and solidified after he moved to Santa Maria as a high school sophomore. 

After graduating from Righetti High School, he attended Allan Hancock College before transferring to Long Beach State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree. Throughout college, he helped tutor students whose first language was not English at elementary and high school levels. After completing his BA, he worked as a News Producer for TV stations in Bakersfield, Salt Lake City, and San Luis Obispo. Now, he is looking forward to giving back to students in his community. His journey as a first-generation college graduate and child of immigrants fuels his pursuit of a career of serving families in his area. 

In addition to being a Cal Poly student, Brian is married to his lovely wife, Miroslava. Together, they have just welcomed their daughter, Amalia.

Master of Science in Special Education / Education Specialist

Margo was born in Berkeley, CA, and raised in Piedmont, CA. She has many years of childcare experience and is excited about pursuing a career in secondary education. She graduated from UC Davis in 2023 with a BA in philosophy with a pre-medical emphasis and a BA in psychology. 

Throughout her undergraduate studies, Margo gained experience working at an inclusive preschool where she applied behavioral analysis therapy and other evidence-based practices to help students with autism spectrum disorder and early signs of other learning disabilities. This experience opened Margo’s eyes to the world of special education. Margo followed her newfound dream of working in special education and worked as a para-educator at Millennium Alternative High School in Piedmont, California. Forming connections with students and helping them realize their potential and dreams for life after college has been incredibly rewarding for Margo and inspired her to get her master’s in special education to become a resource specialist and help more students realize and pursue their dreams. 

Outside of academics, Margo enjoys running, hiking, and being outdoors. She also plays professional Ultimate Frisbee and has been playing sports since she could walk. Through her Ultimate Frisbee career, she has gained lots of leadership experience and is passionate about making sports more accessible to and inclusive for students in special education. 

Single Subject-Social Studies / Bilingual Authorization & MA in Curriculum and Instruction

Martha was born and raised in Lompoc, CA, as the youngest of five. She is a first-generation Mexican American and the first in her family to graduate from a four-year university. Her parents and older siblings immigrated to the U.S. from Zamora Michoacán, Mexico. Spanish was her first language, and she didn't learn English until kindergarten.

During her childhood, Martha always aspired to be a teacher. However, after high school, she became a mom and decided to work as a Medical Assistant to support her family. While working, she trained new staff and was promoted to a supervisory position. Her natural leadership abilities inspired her to pursue her dream of becoming a history teacher.

Martha earned her associate’s degree from Allan Hancock College and her bachelor’s degree in history from Cal Poly in 2024. As a former English learner and future educator, her passion is to work directly with English learners, serve as a role model who reflects their cultural identities, and, most importantly, break the language barrier between students and their parents.

Multiple Subject / Bilingual Authorization & MA in Curriculum and Instruction

Carolina Hernandez-Venegas is a Mexican-American, first-generation college graduate, born and raised in Santa Maria, CA. She attended Allan Hancock College, earning her associate degree in 2021, and later transferred to California State University, Fresno, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies in 2023.

As a child, she was in the Migrant after-school program. It was through her time in this program that she knew that giving back to her community and becoming a teacher was something she aspired to do. In the summer of 2023, she had the opportunity to work as a bilingual Mini Corps Tutor and give back to her community by helping elementary migrant students. She also had experience working in after-school programs while attending California State University, Fresno, through the California Teaching Fellows Foundation within the Central Unified District. As an after-school teacher, she taught STEAM and created engaging lesson plans. Her experiences as a tutor and after-school teacher were incredibly rewarding as she was able to make a positive impact on her student’s academic and personal growth. 

As a daughter of immigrant parents, she understands the barriers that parents can face when trying to communicate with their child's teacher when there is a language barrier. As a future educator, she strives to foster a more inclusive classroom environment where every student feels valued and included, especially when speaking their native language. She is dedicated to helping her students find comfort in asking questions in times of uncertainty to help them succeed in the classroom.

Multiple Subject / Bilingual Authorization & MA in Curriculum and Instruction

Mariela Ramirez-Lucas is a first-generation Mexican American college student. She has lived in Santa Maria, CA, with her parents and siblings for most of her life. She grew up speaking Spanish because her parents didn’t want her to forget her roots.

Her college journey started at Allan Hancock College, where she graduated in 2022 with an Associate's Degree in Arts and Humanities. After she transferred to Cal Poly, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in Equity in Education in 2024. During her time at Cal Poly, she was a Spanish tutor who helped students on campus.

As a future educator, she wants her students to see her as a role model who has achieved a high level of education and respects their cultural and language backgrounds. She wants to be a teacher to help her community transfer their knowledge from one language to another and make schools more welcoming.

Master of Science in Special Education / Education Specialist

Patrick is from San Clemente, California. He has an older brother and a twin sister. He graduated from Cal Poly in 2019 with a B.S. in Environmental Earth and Soil Sciences. After that, he attended Cal State Long Beach, where he worked as a T.A. and earned a M.S. in Geology in 2023. 

Patrick has worked as a substitute teacher in Glendale Unified School District, where he was first exposed to the world of special education. The connections he made with students and the feeling of providing a helpful service to the community sparked his interest in the field of education. More recently, Patrick worked as a special education paraeducator in San Luis Coastal Unified School District, where his commitment to a career in special education was solidified. He is pursuing a master’s degree in special education and hopes to work as a resource specialist in Santa Maria after graduation.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Patrick enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and bird watching outdoors. He also enjoys practicing Italian and Spanish, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and reading.

Single Subject-Social Studies / Bilingual Authorization & MA in Curriculum and Instruction

Victor Rivera is a proud Latino of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent. He is the first in his family to graduate from college, an accomplishment he is proud of. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Victor moved to Santa Maria, California, in 2009, where he has lived since. He has an older brother and a younger sister studying music at Cal Poly. Victor speaks English and fully understands Spanish, though he is still improving his ability to communicate it more comfortably.

Victor began his college journey at Allan Hancock College, where he spent two years before transferring to Sacramento State. In 2023, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history. As a future educator, Victor aims to make a real difference in his students' lives. He aims to create a classroom where students feel safe and understood and know they can rely on him for support. Building solid relationships with his students is very important to him, and he wants them to feel like they belong and can succeed, regardless of their background.

Victor is passionate about helping students embrace their cultural identities and feel empowered to achieve their goals. He hopes to create a positive, inclusive environment that inspires students to do their best and reach for their dreams.

Single Subject-Social Studies / Bilingual Authorization & MA in Curriculum and Instruction

Giovanni Rodriguez is the son of immigrant parents and the youngest of four. Santa Maria, California, is the place he calls home, where he completed his primary and high school education.

After graduating from Santa Maria High School, Giovanni earned an associate’s degree in history from Allan Hancock College in 2021 before transferring to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in philosophy there.

As a future educator, Giovanni aims to share his passion for history with students and help them understand the complexities of the past. Inspired by his history teachers, he hopes to become an educator who connects deeply with students and supports their educational journeys. Outside of his professional pursuits, Giovanni enjoys going to the movies, collecting trading cards, building Legos, and listening to various genres of music.

Multiple Subject / Bilingual Authorization & MA in Curriculum and Instruction

April is a Mexican American born and raised in Santa María. She is a first-generation student out of five sisters and the middle child. Growing up, her first language was Spanish. She was once a teen mother of a daughter who is now seven years old. She moved to North Carolina after high school for three years but returned to finish her education. She enjoys gardening and loves to bake. But most of all, she enjoys spending time with her family.

She attended Allan Hancock College in the summer of 2019 and graduated in Fall 2021 with an Associate in Elementary Teacher Education. Transferred to Cal Poly Fall 2022. Graduation with a bachelor’s degree in science, majoring in Liberal Studies and concentration in social studies/history. During her time, she would work to take care of children. She was a part of Nuestra Ciencia at Cal Poly where she worked in a team to come up with microbiology lesson plans in Spanish to teach elementary students and alongside with research.

As an educator, she ensured diversity in the classroom and wanted to ensure that students felt welcomed and supported. She also wanted to make sure that she made a connection with all her students. She wanted to ensure that all students were being heard and wanted to make it a comfortable space, whether that was with their culture or native language being represented in the classroom.