Michelina is a Clairemont local and a High Tech High Alum! Her first teaching experiences were during elementary school helping out in her Mom’s Montessori Kindergarten classroom. She attended SDSU and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Film Studies. After graduation, she worked in the film department teaching set design and construction, which led her to pursue a teaching credential through the High Tech High Graduate School of Education where she earned her credential and M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning.

As an HTH alum, Michelina is inspired by project-based learning. She feels that it provides an incredible platform for students to learn, explore and grow in an organic and meaningful way! She strives to create a classroom space that feels like a home and functions like a family where students feel safe to take risks, explore their passions, and grow their minds! She is a culturally-responsive teacher who cares deeply about students’ families, experiences and traditions; she believes it is important for all students to celebrate their differences and learn from each other.

In her free time, you can find Michelina surfing, fishing, or searching for reptiles on a hike! She is a lover of ALL nature, from spiders to leopard sharks. She also loves to cook, explore, and spend time with family, friends, and her cat; Cricket and her snake; Nellie.