Biography
I am a faculty member of the Child Development and Education Department, and former Director of the Vasconcellos Institute for Democracy in Action VIDA (formerly known as the Institute for Community and Civic Engagement) at De Anza College. I served as the Academic Senate President from 2013-2017. Since the summer of 2018, I have been serving as a senator for the Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges and faculty liaison for the De Anza's Career Education and Workforce Development Division.
As a faculty member and former Department Chair, I am responsible for the preparation of early childhood professionals, the development of curricula and programs to better serve the needs of our local programs and community. I have been instrumental in creating access to community college course work for Spanish-speaking early childhood workers and adult English learners. I am also involved in community development projects. At the college level, I have served as the coordinator for the Division's Early Intervention Project and the facilitator to the Literacy to Academic Development Project (a grassroots effort in the Castro Elementary School community in Mountain View). I am an advisor/coordinator for the ECE Transfer Degree program and for Career & Technican Education.
From 1988 to 2000, I was the executive director of Community Family Services, Inc. (CFS) in San Jose, California for 10 years. CFS is an early childhood program whose services are provided through a network of family childcare homes in targeted areas. For over 25 years, I have conducted a variety of trainings in both English and Spanish throughout the Bay area, as well as at the State level. The professional development training has included family development, parent leadership, career development, organizational strategic planning, communication, leadership, trauma informed care, reflective practice and professional planning and development for early childhood professionals. I am featured in instructional videos for KVIE PBS Kids Ready to Learn and Early Steps to Reading Success Project.
I am committed to actively participating in community organizing and advocacy on children
and family issues at the state and local levels. In March 2009, I was appointed to
the San Jose/Evergreen Community College Board of Trustees, and elected in 2010, 2012
& 2016. I have served as the Co-Chair of the Santa Clara County Early Education Local
Planning Council; Member and Facilitator of the Santa Clara Inclusion Collaborative;
Advisor of the Warmenhoven Institute for Inclusion; Commissioner for the City of San
Jose Early Care and Education Commission; member of the California Association for
Bilingual Education; Board Member of the Parent Services Project National Board and
President & member for Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN).
Courses Taught at De Anza
- Child, Family, and Community Interrelationships, CD 12
- Trauma-informed care courses
- Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Education, CD 50
- Observation and Assessment of the Young Child, CD 52
- Exceptional Children, CD 60
- Partnerships with Families in Early Childhood Education, CD 72
- Introduction to Elementary School Teaching EDUC 1
Education
- B.A. in Psychology, Minor in Special Education
- M.A. in Education, Special Education
- Transdisciplinary Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Reflective Practice Facilitator I