I graduated from UC San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and from the University of San Diego with a master’s in business. I began working as an environmental engineer first at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company and then for a consultant. I soon became a full-time devoted mother of five, including a special needs child. As I saw some of my children struggle academically, I began what we called “mommy school.” This is where my love of teaching blossomed. I witnessed first hand the creativity, wonderment, and perseverance of children. 

After my own children began thriving academically, I missed teaching and went on to work in the public school system as an aide. When I decided I wanted to teach more, I became a Lindamood-Bell one-on-one academy teacher, teaching all subjects from 1st grade through high school. I am currently the Science Chair and Algebra 1 teacher at Pacific Point Christian School in addition to my work at AJ Tutoring. I have also taught middle schoolers the wonders of writing at the Adventures in Writing summer camp. 

I love forming personal relationships with students and helping them overcome their lack of confidence to the point where they believe in themselves. It’s especially rewarding to hear them  say that their least-favorite class is now their favorite. The most fulfilling aspect of teaching is watching a student become creatively invested and passionate about their studies. I want to instill a love for learning in my students, whether it’s science, math, or reading and writing, so that they can shape the discoveries of the future and help change the world. I accomplish this by forming personal relationships with my students in order to fully understand what drives them and how they learn best.

In my free time, I love to hike with my family on nearby trails and enjoy the fresh air and the beauty of nature. I like to relax by playing George Winston songs on the piano or read an enthralling novel on my couch.