As a co-founder of Bright Future Autism Academy, I bring a total of more than 13 years of experience in a variety of roles in the field of education. My interest in education began almost 17 years ago during my senior year in high school. It was in my learning how to lesson plan in a teaching course that I truly fell in love with the art of making others reach new heights through rich educational learning experiences. During this time, I also had the pleasure to observe an occupational therapist work in my home and that truly inspired me. It did something to awaken my desire to work with students with disabilities and that desire has only grown since then.

My educational background is a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development, a certification in working with individuals on the spectrum, and a teaching certification specializing in working with students with disabilities. During my undergrad years, I worked as a paraprofessional in a variety of settings. I worked in multiple grade levels in general education classrooms, in intervention programs, and in specialized programs with students with disabilities.

In the final semester of my certification program, I student-taught in a 6th grade classroom for students with specific learning disabilities in a Learning Disability Classroom. Shortly after, I began my career as a special education teacher in a classroom for students with autism. I worked in the Los Angeles Unified School District for two and a half years. During this time I created lessons that were tailored to meet the individual needs of students on the spectrum.

I created and planned for whole group lessons, small groups, and 1-1 individualized instruction. I created individualized educational plans and inclusion plans for each student. I was fortunate to work with a group of teachers who had experience and specialized in a variety of areas which gave me tools that I continue to implement in my classroom today.

In 2015 I moved to Katy, Texas which has been my family’s home for the past almost 8 years. I worked as a Life Skills teacher for two years. In this position I acquired skills necessary to work with individuals with a variety of disabilities as well as neurological ones.

I currently work as a teacher in Katy Independent School District. As the only bilingual teacher in a Young Children Autism Program I have truly enjoyed partnering with some of the most committed families with a desire to grow in their understanding of Autism. I have served as a Team Leader in the special education department for two years. With my partner, I have had the opportunity of presenting professional development training to parents and colleagues at a campus and district level.

I have continued to pursue professional growth throughout my career and continue to strive to improve the abilities and assets that I bring to the classroom. My passion continues to be working with individuals with Autism and continuing to develop in my specialization is what drives me. Over the past two years, I have worked toward and earned my Masters Degree in Special Education with an emphasis on Applied Behavior Analysis. My future plans include sitting for the board certified behavior analyst exam in the upcoming months.

My dream at this stage in my life is to create an academy which focuses on building on the strengths that each child brings to their classroom, family, and community and growing them to their full potential. I am passionate about individualized education and providing an environment that fosters and promotes growth in whichever capacity the child is able to learn. I believe that all children learn and demonstrate their knowledge differently, and my dream is to create a school in which each child is able to display their gifts.