I oversee multiple State of California and Federal programs and grants totaling $2.5 million, including ASES/ASSETS before-and-after school programs at middle schools and high schools, DELAC/DPAC parent engagement programs and Professional Development (PD) for community liaisons.

I served for four years as Principal of a Title I middle school with more than 100 teachers and staff members and 1,000 students. During this period, I led efforts to increase Career Technical Education (CTE) programs and Music Pathways to improve opportunities for our students. Among other enrichment programs, I established orchestra, band and robotics programs and led the first-ever Summer Music Camp, provided at no-cost. We co-wrote a grant to research the effects of music on brain development, especially with under-served and at-risk students. In 2016, our school was recognized by the County of San Diego with an Innovation Award for outstanding after-school innovations with technology.

I served for five years as Principal of a Continuation High School, with approximately 50 teachers and staff members and about 400 at-risk students. In 2012, I was named the California Continuation Education Association Principal of the Year. All of the students had dropped out of traditional high schools and our responsibility was to reengage them to graduate. I was in charge of the ASSETS program. One of my first initiatives was to address student engagement. Through a survey, we learned that students desired sports teams. We successfully established soccer and basketball teams, which resulted in improved attendance and graduation rates. In partnership with ROP (now known as CTE), we also established the first culinary skills class with a professional kitchen to build skills needed in the workforce. The culinary skills class was popular and successfully engaged students. We were able to achieve the highest attendance rate of any Continuation High School in San Diego County.

As a lifelong educator, I successfully sought public elected office in order to serve my community. I am a Board Member for the Southwestern Community College District, overseeing a budget of $121.4 million and serving over 20,000 students.