Way to go Jordan, Tyler, Elena, Laura and Hank!!  This team CRUSHED their first year of teaching by setting high expectations for their students.  We can't wait to see what their students will be able to accomplish in year two :)
Not pictured, Hank and Laura

Words from the Leadership team: 
"I cannot express how impressed I am with our team of first year teachers. They are committed, passionate, and effective. As a first year teacher, I was a mess! I am beyond proud of their progress this year and thankful for the impact they have had in their classroom and in our community."

Jordan Ross:
Jordan has so much love for her students.  She has created a warm and inviting classroom where students love to be.  I love to catch her sitting on the carpet surrounded by students clinging to her every word or sharing a read a loud with her students and accidentally slipping into a southern accent when doing a character's voice.  She has grown so much over her first year!

Tyler Powles:
Tyler is one of the hardest working teachers I have ever gotten a chance to work with.  He has created an amazing curriculum for his students in both social studies and science that is extremely rigorous and has utilized various scaffolds to push them into reading and writing about complex texts.  He cares deeply about each and every one of his students and has invested hours (for example almost every single one of his lunch times) into building positive relationships.  He has grown immeasurably this school year and I can't wait to see what he has in store for us during year 2! 

Elena Turanin:
I can't believe this is Elena's first year with her own classroom, she seems like a ten year veteran.  Elena's class is a joy to walk into.  Students know exactly what she expects and live up to it.  Her students have learned so much math this year.  Her SEL time is creative, warm and loving.  She has been a rock in 1st grade this year!

Laura Ticho:
Laura is the definition of grace under pressure.  She is always calm and caring and brings so much love to her children, many of whom are the students on campus who need the most love.  Kids love getting to be with Laura for small group time and have shown so much growth as a result of her support.

Hank Droege:
Hank is hard working and a dedicated coding teacher at Caliber.  He clearly has a passion for computer literacy and is always trying to find new ways to get students excited about computing. He loves watching students grow their skills and show their creativity.  His practice has grown a ton this year!  

Thank you for all of your hard work this year!  Enjoy a much deserved summer break :) 

Meet Evangeline Carillo, one of our founding Kindergarten teachers at ChangeMakers Academy. Evangeline  sets high expectations for her kindergartners and instills in them the values and independence that enables them to meet and exceed expectations on a daily basis!

Words about Evangeline from the CMA staff! 
"Evangeline is helpful and resourceful. She challenges her kiddos and has great classroom management. We are lucky to have her on our K team!" 

"Evangeline always has a positive outlook for all of her students.  She pushes her Kinder babies toward independence, and sets clear and high expectations for them.  Evangeline is always willing to lend a hand of support and collaboration with her colleagues, and is a bright face to see each day!"

​"Evangeline works relentlessly to ensure her students go above and beyond academically and socially emotionally! She loves to celebrate with her students and endlessly pours joy and excitement into her classroom!"

All about Evangeline: 
I hail from Cebu City, Philippines.  That's where I grew up and got my Bachelors in Elementary Education at St. Theresa's College, Cebu City.  I taught for 8 years there  before my family and I moved to California in 2008 and lived in Novato (Marin County) for 5 years.  We moved to Santa Rosa in 2013 and still live there.  I like to go on early morning runs on the weekends and  I love taking my kids on outings to picnic and movies at the park whenever  I can.

A recent interview with Evangeline: 

What is your favorite thing about being a Kinder Teacher at CMA?
My most favorite thing about being a Kinder Teacher is seeing the tremendous amount of growth in learning that each of my students gain throughout the year.  From being pre-readers and barely knowing and writing the alphabets to Level D-K readers, writing and illustrating a 4-page opinions and narratives containing 3 sentences per page.  That, for me, is awesome growth to witness! 

What was your favorite subject growing up? 
Math was my favorite subject growing up.

Did you always think you were going to become a teacher? 
Nope.  Growing up, I always wanted to be a doctor because I love the thought of saving lives.  But I had a change of heart when I had a very personal/life-changing experience with my 6th grade Homeroom/Social Studies/English Teacher (May God bless her soul).  Inspired by her, I knew I would love to be a teacher because just like her I will not only save lives, but I will touch and change the lives of the next generation.

Favorite candy bar or sweet treat?
Funny thing is, I’ve always thought that chocolates were my favorite treat but the reality is, I can’t stop eating a very yummy moist cake recently!

If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go? 
To go to Vatican City, spend a day in Sistine chapel mesmerized by its works of arts, be enchanted by the voices of the choir and maybe… just maybe, have a glimpse of the Pope in person.

What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area (or specifically about Vallejo!)? 
With all honesty, my favorite spot in Vallejo is the Seafood City market, where I could eat all the Filipino foods that I love.

Anything else you want to share?
One of the awesome moments I would like to share was when I did F&P test with a student of mine.  He was very excited to take the Level D reading test where the book was entitled "What A Nice Little House".  When he opened the book. he stumbled on the word "horse" and read it as "house".  Just by timing, I made a sound on my throat to clear it before I will cough (allergies) and he thought that I was giving him the "not ok signal", so he went back to the word and examined it carefully letter by letter using his acquired phonic skills until he finally read the correct word "horse".  He continued and had always been careful from then on with that word and when he finally read the last "horse" word and the entire book, with so much pride and glory, he shouted "Yes! I finally made it!  I knew I will make it! Yeah!  Then pause for awhile and said, "Ooops! sorry Ms. Evangeline, I still have to answer comprehension questions."  I broke my poker face that moment and laughed so hard.

Meet Cara Connor: The incredibly calm, thoughtful presence on the Kindergarten team at Beta Academy.  Cara's room not only smells of lavender but is a place where kids are engaged, happy, and challenged. 

Words about Cara from members of her team: 
"I feel truly blessed to work with Cara. She is an ideal colleague: reliable, supportive, and funny. As a teacher, she works unbelievably hard to give her students the best experience possible. I know that I am privileged to share students with Cara because they learn so much from her, both academically and emotionally. In addition, Cara is someone who really practices what she preaches in terms of teaching philosophy. She believes deeply in the importance of student engagement and joyful learning, and she puts in an insane amount of effort to make those principles come alive in her classroom through exciting centers and hands-on activities. I am so happy and excited that Cara and I will be teaching together again next year. " 

"Children leave Cara's classroom with a lifelong love for exploring, learning, and asking questions. It is a privilege to teach with Cara - I am constantly learning from her." 

All about Cara:
I am originally from a coastal town of San Diego. From a  young age, my family instilled a love of nature and art in me, specifically the ocean, music and literature. Through reading and music, I developed a deep love of learning about life and cultures. At UCSD, I double majored in International Studies and Spanish Literature, and through this experience I learned a lot about education systems around the world, and was inspired to become a teacher. I love being a kindergarten teacher, because I am able to express my whimsical and child-like side with my students while also striving to instill a love of learning and curiosity in them. I strongly believe that children should not only have access to rigorous academic content, but should be able to explore joyful learning through art, technology, and nature. Outside of my job, I love cooking, playing music, going on long walks, reading, dancing, and spending time with my friends and family. 


A recent Interview with Cara: 

What is your favorite thing about being a Kinder Teacher at CBA? 
I absolutely love my team at Caliber. Emily, Tracy, Liv, Ofelia, and Selena are all wonderful colleagues and friends.  I think that we are an incredible balance of individuals. We come from many different backgrounds and with different ideas of what education should be for our youngest learners.  Our various viewpoints mesh so well together. We have a strong (and ever-evolving) vision for what we want kindergarten to be.  

What was your favorite subject growing up? 
Literature, literature, literature! I love reading, writing, analyzing, and discussing literature! I also enjoyed journalism in high school. I got to write album reviews and news stories, and later became the Editor in Chief of the school newspaper. 

Did you always think you were going to become a teacher? 
I think that teaching may have always been at the back of my mind, but my aspirations were always changing. I wanted to be a writer, a physical therapist, in a band, a policy maker, everything... haha. 

Favorite candy bar or sweet treat?
Dark Chocolate

If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go? 
Since I am currently reading "A Song of Ice and Fire" books (Game of Thrones), I would want to visit Westeros and the Free Cities. There, I would want to visit Old Town and read some books in the library. 

What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area (or specifically about Richmond!)? 
I love the incorporation of nature into the cities of the Bay Area. I also love the vibrancy of people and culture!

What is one fun fact that most people don't know about you? 
I was a singer in a reggae band in high school. 

Come visit Beta Academy to see Cara in action!!

Meet Katelyn Mamizuka. Katelyn is one of our founding 1st grade teachers at ChangeMakers Academy in Vallejo and is always a positive, joyful light on campus. She deeply loves each and every student and is eager to grow her pedagogy everyday. 

Some words from her co-teachers at CMA: 
"I LOVE KATELYN!!! She always pushes her students to work their hardest. She is the rock that holds the St. Mary's class together.  Everything about her work ethic is genuine and sincere. You can tell she truly cares about her students and also her staff members. I can't imagine my experience here at Caliber without her!!"

​"Ms. Katelyn is a super positive teacher and it shows in her classroom culture. She has trained her class in the art of the appreciation note and encouragement. Their ability to find a compliment for a classmate is evidence of her awesome classroom culture. I'm so glad that I have been able to work alongside her in first grade this year!"

All about Katelyn: 
​I always knew I wanted to be a teacher ever since I was little. I went to Saint Mary's College of CA for my undergrad and masters. At Saint Mary's College I student taught in all types of schools which was an awesome experience. I ended up at Caliber when I was asked to be the teacher aide for TK. Then, Rachael asked me if I would be open to teaching first grade and I was so excited! Teaching at Caliber has been such a positive addition to my life. When interviewing I knew I wanted to work at Caliber because of the positive culture and the mission that we are striving to achieve. I love that we are so focused on giving all students an equal opportunity. We give so much support and so much love to all of the students. It's unlike any other school.  

A recent interview with Katelyn: 

What is your favorite thing about being a 1st grade Teacher at CMA? 
I love how welcoming and kind everyone is here at CMA. All of the staff members are open to collaboration. I love the atmosphere and environment. I love how respectful and hard-working the students are. My students are the best! They have made this first year of teaching so enjoyable and memorable for me. They have grown so much over the course of this year. 

What was your favorite subject growing up? 
My favorite subjects growing up were P.E. and Math! 

Did you always think you were going to become a teacher? 
I have always wanted to become a teacher since I was 6 years old. 

Favorite candy bar or sweet treat?
Gummy worms

If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go? 
My dream vacation would be to Thailand.  I would love to help save the elephants and sea turtles there. 

What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area (or specifically about Vallejo!)? 
My favorite thing about the Bay Area is the mix of cultures. 

What is one fun fact that most people don't know about you? 
A fun fact about me is that I once had a goldfish for 5 years that I won at the fair. 

Melissa is a rock on the 6th grade team. She is funny, holds high expectations, and does what is right for every student. 

"Melissa shows tremendous dedication to this work and to her students.  She is the teacher you can count on to get things done, both inside and outside of the classroom.  She will do anything to provide more educational opportunities for students."

"Fotouhi is an ideal middle school teacher. She is enthusiastic, fun, and engaging. I would love to be a student in her class!"

All about Melissa:
​
My journey to teaching was very untraditional. I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Merchandising and Business from the University of Kentucky (my home state). I then moved to California to pursue my graduate degree in Textile Science from the University of California, Davis. My pre-teaching resume reads various positions in the clothing industry from chemist to fashion buyer, but my passion for learning and my love of working with young minds drew me back to the classroom first as a volunteer at Glenview Elementary in Oakland and eventually to Caliber as a Math and Science teacher.

I came to Caliber seeking an opportunity to teach students more than just how to memorize math facts, but also to be curious about how math presents itself in the world around them. Caliber has allowed me the time and space to really get to know my "kids". I can personally only remember a handful of teachers who thankfully reached out and helped me rise to my academic potential. I hope one day I can be a teacher my students remember in that way. Most students will at least remember my "big eyes", that come out from time to time to alert students that I mean business when it comes to math. 

A recent interview with Melissa: 

What is your favorite thing about being a 6th grade Math Teacher at Beta?  
I love the flexibility I have in teaching my students. I have access to both online and on paper materials to help students wherever they are.

What was your favorite subject growing up? 
My favorite subject growing up was art. I liked not having to be "right" and the freedom to make something, no matter how  it turned out.

What would you be doing if you were not teaching? 
If I wasn't teaching I would travel the world to experience life from different cultural perspectives. 

Favorite candy bar or sweet treat?
I love coffee, not real coffee but the Starbuck's kind with lots of sugar and flavors added. 

If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go? 
I want to visit my husband's family in Iran and experience the Iranian culture in its truest form. 

What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area (or specifically about Richmond!)? 
When I'm not teaching, I'm momm'n for my two amazing children (Cyrus 3 years and Lily 8 months). I love being outside with my husband and kids. As a family we cheer for the Oakland A's and travel throughout California on the weekends. 

What is one fun fact that most people don't know about you? 
My favorite thing to do is make other people laugh. I believe humor is the best way to get through life (I'm okay if I'm the only one who thinks I'm funny). 

​Come to Beta to see Fotouhi in action! 

Meet Alison Ford: She is loving, consistent, joyful and rigorous. She holds high expectations and is a rock on the founding team at ChangeMakers Academy. 

"Ms. Ford embodies a love for her students that we can all learn from!! Her efforts despite challenges is inspiring!"

"Alison is a joy to be around and is a truly invested and engaged teacher. She is the one I turn to for advice about classroom management and for any additional resources. She is selfless and I am so blessed to work alongside such a wonderful educator." 

"Ms. Ford is a dedicated, patient, resilient and thoughtful educator. She builds incredible relationships with families and supports all her students academically and socio-emotionally. Ms. Ford continually seeks feedback and strategies to grow because she believes in being the best she can be for her students. She isn't deterred by challenges, but instead comes up with solutions. She sees her students holistically and goes the extra mile to support them in whatever way she can! Ms. Ford's students are so fortunate to have had her as their teacher this year!" ​

I always admire Alison's patience and calmness; even through difficult situations. She handles everything with grace.  She's amazing!"

All about Alison: 
​I grew up in Suisun City, California, where I lived with my parents and my younger brother.  For college, I attended Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.  That was my first experience on the East Coast, and I loved living through all of the seasons.  While attending Bucknell, I played Division 1 softball for the Bison.  I was able to travel a lot with the team, even back to California to play.  After graduating with my degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, I moved back home to California to be closer to my family.  Since being back in California, I got a job working in the Vallejo School District, and have coached softball for many age groups.  Outside of the classroom, I love to play softball, explore the outdoors, spend time with my family, and try new places to eat.

A recent interview with Alison: 
What is your favorite thing about being a Kinder Teacher at CMA? 
My favorite thing about being a kinder teacher at CMA is the collaboration.  I work with an excellent team of teachers, and we are always working to find new ways to make our lessons engaging.  I also love teaching our youngest scholars.  It is very rewarding to know that I am their first teacher at CMA, and I am helping set their educational foundation.

What was your favorite subject growing up?
My favorite subject was always writing.  

Did you always think you were going to become a teacher? 
When I entered college, I was planning on going into psychology.  But growing up, I was surrounded by education, as many of my family members were teachers.  When in college, I began taking courses in education, and was able to re-realize my passion for teaching.

Favorite candy bar or sweet treat?
I love chocolate and caramel.

 If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go? 
My dream vacation would be to take a cruise through the Mediterranean.  My grandma is from Italy, and I have always wanted to explore that part of the world.

What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area (or specifically about Vallejo!)? 
I love the Bay Area for its diversity.  Wherever you go, there are differences in food, music, celebrations and culture.  I also love the foggy weather.

What is one fun fact that most people don't know about you? 
I am deaf in my right ear!

Make sure to visit Alison's room when you visit ChangeMakers Academy!! 

Maddy's joy and leadership is apparent the moment you step into her classroom or see her on campus. She is always positive with her students, has high expectations, and finds a way to reach every student holistically. Congratulations, Maddy, on this week's Teacher Tuesday! 

Quotes from Maddy's teammates at Caliber Beta Academy: 
"Maddy is inspiring to be around. Her devotion and diligence are as obvious as her love for the kids. I can't say who has learned more - me or the kids - but I am certain of how lucky we are to have her guiding our fourth grade dragons. Congrats, Maddy!"

"Maddy is a great leader and works hard to make sure the day runs smoothly. She is very flexible and understanding to student's needs as well as her coworker's. It has truly been a pleasure working with Maddy!" 

"If you have ever seen Maddy's traveling group of Intervention students you know how great of a teacher she is.  They are meeting without a classroom, but whether they are in room 3, on the blacktop near the office, or huddled in the library, she has them fully engaged in learning!  It is teaching at its finest!"

"Working alongside Maddy has been a true pleasure! She's 100% invested in her student's future. She literally utilizes every instructional minute to enrich our 4th grade class. Talk about HEART: she takes food from her own lunch bag to give to hungry students. Maddy, you're doing an amazing job, keep up the great work!" 

All about Maddy: 
I grew up in Seattle, Washington and went to Redlands, California for College. I graduated from University of Redlands with a bachelor’s degree in Race and Ethnic Studies with a focus in education. From California, I ventured to the midwest to teach in Kansas City Public Schools. There, I taught 1st-3rd grade (yes, 30 students of 1st-3rd graders, all in one classroom), I started a Girls on the Run team and helped develop school curriculum. I taught there for three years so was able to teach my 1st graders through their third grade year. I still stay in touch with all of them.  Through my experience in and outside the classroom with students, I became grounded in my passion to work with kids.  I was missing my west coast roots, so moved to California where I started teaching at Caliber. When I am not teaching, you’ll find me outside on hikes, runs, or at the park kicking the soccer ball around with friends. I love exploring new places, reading good books, and spending time with my family.  ​

A recent interview with Maddy: 
What is your favorite thing about being a 4th grade ELA Teacher + Grade Level Lead at Beta? 
My favorite thing about teaching is working with the students. I love figuring out how each student learns, developing that relationship and then watching them grow in all areas - in and outside the classroom!  

What was your favorite subject growing up? 
I loved reading and writing. 

Did you always think you were going to become a teacher? 
Yes... Ever since my incredible teacher in 2nd grade (Mrs. Mark), I remember always wanting to be a teacher- she made learning so fun. 

Favorite candy bar or sweet treat?
Anything peanut butter and chocolate!

If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go? 
I would travel through South America. 

What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area (or specifically about Richmond!)? 
I love the families here in Richmond... I love how involved they are in their community and in their child's education.  They bring so much love and trust to our school.  

What is one fun fact that most people don't know about you? 
I have been white water rafting down the Nile river and the Zambezi River....both grade 5 type of rapid action... and both incredible!

Come visit Beta Academy to observe Maddy in action!!

On the left, Myiah is leading the "Beats" Elective Drumming Performance at our groundbreaking ceremony in Vallejo!

Myiah is our incredibly joyful, hardworking, founding Kindergarten Instructional Assistant  (and Beats Drumming Teacher!) at CMA. 

"Myiah's contagious joy, hard-work and care for all students have led to her growing into such a responsive and effective educator! She meets her students where they are and uses their strengths to push even further. Myiah embodies flexibility, commitment and authenticity. She has been such a critical part of our Kindergarteners' success this year. If you observe one of Myiah's small groups, you would be amazed at her students' engagement and growth as readers!"

"Myiah has always been amazing.  She's so great.  She makes our day to day lives easier and simpler.  I'm so glad for the chance to work with her and can't thank her enough for everything she's done in our class."

All about Myiah: 
​I was referred to Caliber Schools by a Beta employee and was drawn to the school because it started in my hometown of Richmond! I felt appreciative that the school was founded there to help a community that means so much to me. Also, the chance to be a part of a founding team seemed really amazing ... and it has proven to be!!!

I spent the past few years working in preschool and never thought I would move up to kindergarten. After some thought, I knew that seeing exactly what little preschoolers would be moving up to would be great experience for me! I've known since the age of 15 that I wanted to work with children in education. At 23, I started at Contra Costa College on making that a reality. Shortly after, I was in the preschool world and loved it. I am now loving the kindergarten teaching world just as much!

A recent interview with Myiah: 
What is your favorite thing about being an Instructional Assistant at CMA?
My fave thing about being an IA is the chance to experience two different classrooms and work with two different teachers. I am able to learn so much because I am learning from two different teaching styles.

What was your favorite subject growing up? 
My favorite subject growing up was English & Writing! Still my faves today.

Did you always think you were going to become a teacher? 
I didn't know to what capacity I would be working with children but, it became clear to me that teaching was it for me at the age of 21.

Favorite candy bar or sweet treat?
My fave sweet treat is chocolate (no fillings) and Haribo gummy bears!

If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go? 
My dream vacation would be to the island of Grenada! I became obsessed with the island about 5 years ago after meeting some friends of my family that are from there. I love the whole idea of the islands (weather & culture) and that will be the first one I go to when I start traveling!

What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area (or specifically about Vallejo!)? 
My favorite thing about the Bay Area is the rich culture! We are so diverse and our culture is super unique. Wherever we (Bay Natives) go, people know and love that we are from the bay. We are just "hella" tight!!!! My fave thing about Vallejo are all the awesome food spots that you can find if you just explore the streets. :)

What is one fun fact that most people don't know about you? 
One fun fact that most don't know about me is that I live for karaoke! .... with an audience. 

When you visit CMA make sure to see Myiah in action! 

Ms. Zenobia Ritter is the newest member of our Caliber Beta Academy Team. She is teaching 5th Grade Math and attacking standards and SBAC prep day in and day out. We want to take this #TeacherTuesday to get to know our newest member! 

"Zenobia has hit the ground running.  She is working hard to get to know students, create meaningful and engaging lessons, and get kids prepared and confident for the SBAC math test. She has an easy style with our scholars and calmly encourages them to do their best while holding them to a high standard."

Learn all about Zenobia! 

I am originally from Columbia, S.C. I graduated from Benedict College in 2000 with a B.S degree in Education and attained my Masters in March 2016 from Capella University in Higher Learning - Adult Education. I have lived in a number of states and I have finally found my place in Oakland, CA. I am done moving! 

I was attracted to Caliber schools when I first subbed at ChangeMakers Academy in Vallejo. I was highly impressed with the students and I wanted to learn more about Caliber as an organization. I was fortunate to become a part of the Beta Team and I absolutely love the staff but more so the students. The students are so sweet and they won me over with their pleasantries and willingness to learn. They accepted me with open arms which we know is very hard for children to do when in the midst of change. I love children; teaching gives me life and something to look forward to. Since Kindergarten I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I come from a very large family of teachers on both sides of my family.

My favorite subject growing up was ELA and choir and band (marching, jazz and concert). My favorite chocolate treats are Ferroro Rocher and Snickers candy bar. If I could go on a dream vacation I would choose to go to the Bahamas, United Arab Emirates and/or Germany. 

My favorite things about the Bay area are the cultural diversity and welcoming of difference, the people, the weather, the food, the arts and the sheer beauty of the Bay as a whole. It is so beautiful here. My big secret is - In high school I was accepted to Berkeley but my parents (my dad specifically) didn't want his daughter on the other side of the country. So.... it took me a little over 20 years to move to where I should have been all along! Last summer I turned 40 and vowed to never live in a place I didn't like ever again! 

Fun Facts about me - I sing, play saxophone (a little rusty but can still read music), love creative writing, am a great dancer, love to travel, in 2005 tried out for American Idol, I'm an adventurer/free spirit and love trying new things. I want to put a band together! My stage name is LadyZee! 

Welcome, Zenobia! 

"
Latasha Dubois is our warm, supportive, and determined Special Education Instructional Assistant at Caliber ChangeMakers Academy. She is loved by all students and staff and is a constant force on our team to advocate and support every child. 

What Latasha's team has to say about her:  "Latasha is eager to learn, always patient with students, and is there whenever needed.  She has become such an asset to our SPED program, and to the Caliber family as a whole."

"Latasha is wonderful to work with. She is organized, responsible, kind to the children and also demonstrates excellent teaching techniques and pedagogy. She is a team-player and supports all her coworkers. She also has great ideas for the classroom, and welcomes new ideas from others!" 

All about Latasha: 
Richmond California is my hometown and where my family still resides. My mother moved my siblings and I to Vallejo, and I must say I'm so happy she did because I've had nothing but great experiences here. I am a Vallejo High School alumni--class of 2004. I was very active in school with sports, clubs, and volunteering in general education and SPED classrooms/programs. From there, I went to Contra Costa College and transferred to UC Berkeley where I studied English and Education. During that time, I was blessed with three amazing children, worked full time as a tutor, and attended school as well. I am grateful to have accomplished that! 
      Before coming to Caliber I worked as a home-base tutor for students with special needs, an IA and graduate tutor in the SPED department for WCCUSD in Richmond, and from there I became a Teacher for VCUSD. A friend of mine informed me about Caliber and I was ecstatic about the new school coming to the community! 
   I have learned so much working in the SPED department at Caliber and am looking forward to the future years! One school! One mission!

A recent interview with Latasha:
What is your favorite thing about teaching Special Education at CMA? 
One of my favorite things about teaching Special Education at CMA is being able to witness students accomplish their personalized academic, mental, and social goals over time. It is an honor to take part in that growth. They are my inspiration!

What was your favorite subject growing up? 
My favorite subject growing up was English, it still is. I love writing! 

Did you always think you were going to become a teacher? 
Yes! I always knew I wanted to be a Teacher. It has always been a passion of mine.

Favorite candy bar or sweet treat?
My favorite candy is a kit kat bar. But any type of chocolate will do. Yummy!

If you could go on a dream vacation, what would you do + where would you go?
I would love to go to China to travel and of course teach.

What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area (or specifically about Vallejo!)? 
My favorite thing about Vallejo are the PEOPLE! The love and support I see in the community, especially the community at Caliber, is refreshing and warms my heart! I love seeing a strong community.

What is one fun fact that most people don't know about you? 
I have three children. I practice contortion, acro yoga and aerial arts. 

​Come visit CMA and see Latasha in action!