I’m thrilled to have landed here at HTHCV! A California native, I was born in Escondido and was raised in Northern California. After being away for 20 years, it feels extraordinary to have come full circle, to have returned home.

For 9 years, I taught in New York City, as a K-12 special educator and as an instructor for graduate students working on their teaching degrees. I spent the past 7 years teaching for Seattle Public Schools as a special educator. My background is in disability studies and inclusive education, and in addition to teaching, I also write. In this work, I explore topics such as autism and inclusive education, often through the lens of creativity.

When I am not teaching, I love photography, painting, taking dips in the sea, running, spending time with loved ones, and cooking while listening to music (& dancing, depending).

My two kids, Mario and Sabine, are 7th and 9th graders who keep me grounded and chasing the light, always.