Hi! I’m Valerie, and I teach 10th Grade Humanities at High Tech High Point Loma. I’ve spent more than 20 years in education—as an English, Humanities, ELD, and AVID teacher, instructional leader, and, for the past decade, a school principal. I earned my master’s degree in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University, and after many years in school leadership, I decided it was time for a new adventure: heading back to the classroom!

I believe some of the best learning happens when students are curious, talking, creating, questioning, and taking creative risks. In Humanities, we explore big ideas about identity, power, culture, history, and the stories we carry, while building a classroom community where students feel known, valued, and comfortable bringing their whole selves to the work.

HTH is especially close to my heart because I’m also the proud mom of two High Tech High graduates. Outside of school, I love spending time with my family, singing karaoke, finding inspiration for my next classroom project, and hanging out with my rescue cat, Oliver.