Meet​ Rebecca Francis, our 3rd grade founding ELA teacher at ChangeMakers Academy. Rebecca is compassionate, caring, funny, and gets to know her students on a deep and personal level.

"Rebecca harnesses student's strengths--both academically and socially--and encourages them to be their very best! Personally, Rebecca is a wonderful support system. She always has a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on. Her smile is contagious and can make anyone's day!"  -Caliber Founding Teacher

"It has truly been an honor and pleasure to work with Rebecca over the past several months.  She strives to teach from her heart and connect with students in profound ways."
-Caliber Founding Teacher 

All about Rebecca: 
I was born and raised in the East Bay in a family that greatly valued education.  I watched my mom take night classes and weekend classes (while working a full time job and raising four kids) to fulfill her dream of earning a degree and becoming a teacher.  I was taught that anything was possible through hard work and determination.  I graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in psychology and a minor in African American Studies. I also attended Grambling State University in Louisiana and the University of Southern California.  Last year I found myself on quite the adventure after accepting a job teaching English in Nanjing, China at an international high school.  I also took the opportunity to do some traveling through Asia.  It was an experience that I will forever cherish. My teaching career started after a few years working in the non-profit sector providing behavior counseling to select schools in the Antioch Unified School District.  I loved being on school campuses and feeling the energy from teachers and students.  Teaching seemed fun, exciting, rewarding, and challenging. I am now halfway through my fourth year teaching and I love that everyday is a new day.  I have always been extremely passionate about my students and their success.  At CMA I can feel that same passion for the students across the entire staff.  


A recent interview with Rebecca: 

What is your favorite thing about teaching 3rd grade ELA at CMA?
Watching my students be intimidated by a task such as a 5 paragraph opinion essay and then seeing the proud look on their faces when they complete it. 

What was your favorite subject growing up? 
I've always loved reading and writing.  My parents say I would fall asleep with a book on my chest every night.

Did you always think you were going to become a teacher? 
I actually wanted to be a child psychologist!  

What is your favorite candy bar or sweet treat?
My dad's homemade banana pudding

If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go? 
I would love to spend at least a month in Africa exploring the different regions on the continent. 

What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area (or specifically about Vallejo!)? 
There's no place like the Bay.  It's such a cool, eclectic, diverse place. ​

Come visit ChangeMakers Academy to see Rebecca in action! 

Meet Alex Paulson, our 7th grade ELA extraordinaire at Caliber Beta Academy. Alex's classroom is full of rigorous literary analysis, writing, and discussion. Students are focused and engaged and always thinking deeply. We are so lucky that Alex made the move West to join our team at Caliber!  

One of Alex's teammates recently said, "Alex operates with such conviction about the work that he is doing on behalf of students. He is so focused on making sure their literacy needs are met and that he's developing them not just as learners, but as whole people. He is always willing to collaborate and find solutions and has been a pleasure to work with." 

All about Alex: 
My early days started in the frozen fields of Minnesota where I spent a lot of time trying to play hockey and fishing with my grandpa. At age sixteen, I started working for my local school district at its before-and after-school program. After graduating from high-school, I packed my things and left Minnesota forever, moving to Madison, Wisconsin. I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Go Badgers!) where I received a Bachelor's Degrees in English and Psychology. After a brief stint promoting sustainable agriculture in the Madison area, I moved to Brooklyn, NY. In Brooklyn, I helped kids discover a love of reading and literature by teaching 6th Grade Writing, creating and managing a school library, and earning my Master's Degree in Middle-School English. Needing a change of scenery and some fresh air, my new wife Ms. Cardenas and I decided to adventure west to the Bay Area. I couldn't be happier here in Richmond teaching the best 7th grade students on the planet, period.

A recent interview with Alex: 
What is your favorite thing about teaching 7th grade ELA at CBA? 
That moment when students find that one book that changes the way they see the world.

What was your favorite subject growing up?
Easy, 7th Period Algebra 1 with Ms. Talbot. Best class of all-time.

Did you always think you were going to become a teacher? 
I have been working in schools since I was a teenager, so whether I thought I would or not, it seemed to always be written in the stars.

Favorite candy bar or sweet treat?
I couldn't live in Dairy Country without developing an unhealthy appreciation for Ice Cream. Mint Chocolate Chip to be exact.

If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go? 
I would love to experience the immensity of the Earth's glaciers before they are gone, so probably Perito Moreno in Argentina.

What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area? 
After living in extreme climates my whole life, it is great to wake up and see sunshine most of the days. It immediately brightens my day.

What is one fun fact that most people don't know about you? 
When I was in college, my friends and I wrote and starred in a musical about Dr Seuss.

If you come visit Caliber Beta Academy, be sure to head over to Mr. Paulson's world of reading and writing to see Alex and our students in action!

Laura Ticho is our Education Specialist in the SpEd Department at Caliber Beta Academy. Laura is in her first year of teaching through Teach for America (after interning at Caliber for the second half of the school year last year) and is a positive, passionate force to be reckoned with. She is devoted to her students in every way. We are so lucky that she is a part of the Caliber Team + Family. 

An excerpt about Laura from a member of her team: ​Laura is dedicated to changing opportunities for students with disabilities at Caliber Beta. She is hard-working and focused, takes ownership of her students' success, is highly collaborative, and embodies a "whatever it takes" mindset for each of her students. She pushes herself to learn and implement equitable practices for her students, especially when they present with challenging and complex needs. She is a solutions-oriented creative problem solver, and we are lucky to have such a kind, intelligent, dedicated educator on our team!

All about Laura: 
​I grew up outside of Chicago and decided to move West to The University of Oregon for college. I majored in Family and Human services and ended up doing a lot of internships with special education programs. I knew that I wanted to work in some capacity for the students who so often fall through the cracks because the "mainstream" system isn't necessarily compatible with how they learn. My mom was a teacher and I grew up always telling myself that I was never going to teach, but I quickly realized that education was such a strong empowerment tool and I wanted to be a part of it so badly. I joined TFA and was placed in Richmond last year in the middle of the school year since I graduated early (I can't believe I have been at Caliber for almost a year!). I started here as an aide and came to love Caliber for the sense of community, the space for each teacher to be creative with their styles, and the emphasis on each person's strengths as educators. I loved how much I learned as an aide and am learning even more from my incredible peers every day as a teacher. I admire my fellow teachers so much and feel so lucky to have them to learn from.

A recent interview with Laura: 
What is your favorite thing about teaching SpEd at CBA?
My favorite thing about SPED is the TEAM!

What was your favorite subject growing up? 
My favorite subject growing up was math.

Did you always think you were going to become a teacher? 
I never thought I was going to become a teacher... My mom knew better apparently!

Favorite candy bar or sweet treat?
Favorite candy is sour gummy worms... or pecan pie... or recess peanut butter cups

If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go? 
Dream vacation would be either visiting all the national parks on a road trip or backpacking Patagonia

What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area? 
Favorite thing about the Bay area is how much there is to do around here! Quirky cities surrounded by nature is so cool.

What is one fun fact that most people don't know about you? 
One fun fact about me is that I used to do musical theater as a kid. My entire family and I performed in musicals when I was growing up. They still do it; I stopped in high school.