Hi everybody! My name is Adriana Barraza. I’m thrilled to begin at HTH, teaching Spanish and the power of multilingualism. I grew up in the fields of the Imperial Valley, the daughter of Mexican immigrants. In this desert, I ran in the sunshine, and developed my love for nature, animals and hard work. As a first-generation college student at UCSD, I started with Biology and graduated with a B.A. in Visual Arts (Media/Photography), a minor in Ethnic Studies and Masters in Education. I hold a Single Subject teaching credential in English, Spanish and Art. Traveling across the U.S. and Mexico, I learned from many indigenous communities. This fortified my understanding that education is:
1. A life-long endeavor, and
2. Key to moving towards a balance in which ecological and cultural diversity is rich, sustainable, and can exist in mutual benefit and respect.
As a high school teacher, I did project-based learning in City Heights. Motherhood led me to a break from teaching and I started a tiny backyard microgreens farm with my neighbor. Our farm got together with our friends’ farm and we started Foodshed, a small farm cooperative. I learned A LOT about how to run a business (!) and that the way we grow food is key to reversing climate change. Outside of all this, I love to sew, read, dance, hike and run on the beach with my kids and dog named Simón. I am excited to return to high school teaching and make new connections with all of you!