How I’m Using My Story as a Homeless Student to Help Students Turn Trauma Into Strengths

By the time I was 15 years old, I was living on my own, and mostly homeless. My parents were undocumented immigrants. I didn’t know…

Those Teachers in Idaho Destroyed Any Trust Parents Had in Their Teachers

Will the parents of my Mexican students ever look at me the same after Halloween in Middleton, Idaho? On Friday, I had an awesome day…

I’ve Educated All Over North America and Now I’m Bringing That Experience to My Own Los Angeles School

Growing up it was difficult to escape discussions about education. Whether it was homework projects at the time or the future investments in my college…

Helping My Home of Puerto Rico Get Back to School

When I was growing up, Puerto Rico was always my favorite place on Earth. Born in Boston to Puerto Rican parents, I spent my summers…

My Mom Went to War to Get Me Into a School That Believes a Kid With Autism Kid Can Thrive

I have always been extremely anxious about change. Sometimes that change would lead to various levels of panic, sometimes in public. And that panic would…

I’m Proud to Be First-Gen, But There’s a Lot More to Me Than Just That

I am proud to be the first in my family to have gone to college. However, that is not all I am. I am the…

Just Give Me the Facts, Don’t Tell Me Where My Child Should Go to School

Hard decisions are not new to me, but in the past seven years, decisions about where to send my daughter for elementary and middle school…

I Graduated College So I Could Teach at My High School

At the end of my junior year, I was expecting my daughter Alyssa, who was born right before my senior year started. It was a…

His Hometown in Mexico Had No School. Now He’s Inspiring the Next Generation of Latino Educators.

This profile of teacher Manuel Mendoza was written for Honored by Steve Padilla of the Los Angeles Times. Each month, Honored recognizes a impactful teacher…

71 Years Ago This Case Ended Segregation in California and Made Brown v. Board of Education Possible

In September 1943, Gonzalo Jr., Sylvia and Jerome Mendez went with their aunt, Soledad Vidaurri, and three cousins to enroll at the local elementary school,…