KIPP Bay Area Teacher Residency at Alder GSE

Resident, Cohort 2019–2020
Residency Placement: KIPP King Collegiate High School
Mentor: Eli Landman
Special mention: KIPP alum

What Is Your Hometown? San Francisco, California

What College Did You Attend? Kenyon College

What Degree Did You Earn? BA in Spanish Literature

What Inspired You to Teach? When I was a student at KIPP SF Bay Academy, I remember the impact the Salvadoran-American teacher Mr. Rivera had on me. He embodied what my hard work at KIPP would lead to—a college education. I worked hard for four years at KIPP before I could be his student. After all of these years, I continue to admire Mr. Rivera because he went back to his community to help my generation. I needed Mr. Rivera, and the need for more Mr. Riveras has not gone away. I am inspired by his commitment to the Latinx community in the Bay Area and I need to give back to the community that shaped me.

Why Did You Choose Alder’s Teacher Residency Program at Aspire Public Schools? The Alder Teacher Residency program is the ideal program for me to achieve my goals. I will be able to prepare academically and experientially to be the best teacher that I can be by the end of this year. I was not interested in any program that would place me into a classroom immediately with little preparation. I do not want students from low-income backgrounds to be taught by recent college grads with little preparation. I want them to receive the education that they deserve given by educators who are as prepared as they can be, and this program does exactly that. This program also is perfect because it allows me to give back to the community that shaped me. I look forward to growing as an educator for my students.