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ABOUT ME
I was a Head Start kid. I grew up in rural Minnesota, close to the South Dakota border. I loved going to school AND playing school, and as the oldest of 5 children (and my mom ran an in-home daycare), I always got to be the teacher. I taught English in Argentina for 3 years, and fell in love with the culture and language. My husband, Alef, was born in Cuba and came to the United States as a child. We feel fortunate to raise our two daughters, Sofia (age 16- SAVHS) and Stella (age 8- Wilshire Park) with multicultural opportunities and experiences that embrace the Midwest and Latin America. |
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MY EXPERIENCE
My personal and professional experiences have built my passion for education and the St. Anthony Village Schools in particular. I’ve worked in public service for over 20 years, and my current role is leading youth education strategies for Hennepin County. My current professional role leverages my years of strategy and systems work in human services and builds strong relationships with partners in school districts and state departments. We know there are disparities in educational outcomes for children in our schools and through strong partnerships we can ensure every child has access to and support toward educational outcomes that prepare them for the future. In addition to my work for Hennepin County, I remain a teacher at heart. I have been teaching adult learners at Metropolitan State University for nearly 10 years. It is humbling to meet and work with folks who are working full time, raising their families, and also striving to continue their education. I am a fierce advocate for the families in our community. When our children were younger, I was a member of the Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) Parent Advisory Council. I have participated as a community member in strategic planning processes and equity work our district has been working on. I am currently a member of St. Anthony-New Brighton Education Foundation (SANBE), as well as the Community Fund- a fund I helped establish to provide real-time gap funding for the little things (lunch balances, a backpack, field trip cost) that might get in the way for any kid on any given day. I am a certified Spanish interpreter, and I’ve had the privilege of getting to know some of our Spanish-speaking families in our community, and to lift up their voices. I have seen first-hand some of the challenges that families face as they strive to navigate complicated systems. I’ve had to navigate complex systems to help my own children, too. Whether it’s a language barrier or other factors that get in the way of your children getting the best out of every day at school, I will do everything I can to support the kids and families in our community. |
4th grade class in Buenos Aires
St. Anthony-New Brighton is a tight knit and caring community that values education - it shows in our schools. I would be proud to represent you and
your family. 
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