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Meet the 2010/11 Aspire Teacher Residents
Andrea Young
Residency Placement: 1st Grade, Aspire University Charter School
Currently Teaching at Aspire University Charter School
Hometown: Sebastopol, CA
Undergraduate University: CSU Sacramento
Degree Earned: BS in Business Administration, concentration in Human Resources
Why I Chose Aspire: I love Aspire's sense of community, the high expectations, individualized learning, and rigorous instruction.
Andrew Barratt
Residency Placement: Kindergarten, Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy
Currently Teaching at Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy
Hometown: Dudley, England
Undergraduate University: Lancaster University
Degree Earned: BA in English Literature
Why I Chose Aspire: I am drawn to Aspire because of its commitment to excellence and its pledge of ‘College for Certain.’ It serves economically disadvantaged students and gives them the greatest possible chance to enjoy education, expand their opportunities and attain any goals they want to. Aspire schools are making a huge impact in showing what schools can achieve in California and I am excited and honored to both teach and learn in this amazing environment.
Bob Hawkins
Residency Placement: 9/10th Grade Algebra, Aspire Benjamin Holt Preparatory Academy
Currently Teaching at Aspire Benjamin Holt Preparatory Academy
Hometown: Southern New Mexico
Undergraduate University: New Mexico State University
Degree Earned: BFA in Painting
Why I Chose Aspire: What I like most about Aspire is their commitment to excellence, their ability to adapt to the changing educational landscape, and their focus on achieving successful results with all students through high expectations and cutting-edge teaching concepts and methods. What drew me here was that my own children have benefitted from the Aspire concepts and I knew that working for a company like Aspire would give me not only the personal satisfaction of working with youth again, but also give me the professional satisfaction of working for a forward-thinking company, in the best possible environment for making a real difference in the lives of children.
Christina Chocha
Residency Placement: Kindergarten, Aspire Firestone Academy
Currently Teaching at Aspire Millsmont Academy
Hometown: Castro Valley, CA
Undergraduate University: UC Davis
Degree Earned: BA in Psychology, minor in Education
Why I Chose Aspire: I fell in love with Aspire’s goal of getting every child into college and after working at BMA, I couldn’t think of a better organization to be a part of. I am very passionate in helping those achieve their very best and believe that every child has the capacity to succeed and do great things with their lives. It is up to us, Aspire, to be our student’s advocates in their education and show them that they can do all the amazing things we know they can. It is Aspire’s selfless and unrelenting teachers and staff who work around the clock making sure that their students are getting the best education they possibly can. It is their hard work and dedication that make me want to be an amazing teacher and follow in their footsteps to help change the lives of students everywhere.
Claudia Martinez Garcia
Residency Placement: 1st Grade, Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo Academy
Currently Teaching at Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo Academy
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate University: Whittier College
Degree Earned: BA in History
Why I Chose Aspire: What got my attention to work at Aspire was the mission and values of Aspire. I want to be part of an organization that believes that all students can go to college and that provides them with the knowledge and skills to do so. I also have seen firsthand how Aspire teachers and administrators work together to help students succeed.
David Cabrera
Residency Placement: 4th Grade, Aspire Titan Academy
Currently Teaching at Aspire Inskeep School
Hometown: Huntington Park, CA
Undergraduate University: UC Berkeley
Degree Earned: BA in Political Science
Why I Chose Aspire: Upon completing my college education, my first goal was to return to my roots and help my community. With the hope of using my personal experiences, in overcoming poverty, as tool to effectively help my community, I found teaching a natural calling to me. I anticipate that one day I could provide students with the proper tools needed to succeed in college. Aspire not only provides a great education for our children; it also showed me its strong impact it has on the communities it serves. Fortunately, Aspire not only provided services to my community it also impacted my family directly. With younger cousins attending the schools and having worked in Aspire for a year prior to ATR, I was amazed with the well-built dedication the organization has to the empowerment of the children and their families. All of the schools I’ve visited have a healthy level of parent participation and engagement with the community. Thus, it has drawn me to want to be part of the Aspire team that is willing to go the extra mile to better assist its student’s needs. The dedication Aspire has placed on communities has excited me to be part of this new movement that is changing my own community.
Dee Anna Tolentino
Residency Placement: 2nd Grade, Aspire Vincent Shalvey Academy
Currently Teaching at Aspire Vincent Shalvey Academy
Hometown: Stockton, CA
Undergraduate University: University of Phoenix
Degree Earned: BS in Human Services
Why I Chose Aspire: I believe in Aspire's mission of preparing students for college. The lives of students are at stake and through education, Aspire is changing the future for many and providing hope to families.
Erin Kohl
Residency Placement: 5/6th Grade Humanities, Aspire Junior Collegiate Academy
Currently Teaching at Aspire East Palo Alto Phoenix Academy
Hometown: Albert Lea, MN
Undergraduate University: University of Minnestota, Minneapolis
Degree Earned: BA in International Studies; BA in Spanish
Why I Chose Aspire: I was drawn to Aspire because I wanted to work with a high-impact charter school, providing low-income and first generation college students with the academic preparation necessary to access a college education and reach their goals and dreams. I was excited about the opportunity to receive my master’s degree as part of a teacher residency program, in order to enter the classroom with the preparation necessary to be a highly effective teacher. I am also excited to work with a team of dedicated, enthusiastic and caring professionals.
Lea Hartog
Residency Placement: 8th Grade Humanities, Aspire East Palo Alto Charter School
Currently Teaching at Aspire East Palo Alto Phoenix Academy
Hometown: Oakland, CA
Undergraduate University: Pomona College
Degree Earned: BA in International Relations
Why I Chose Aspire: Investment in community and high expectations for high-achieving students, results!
Lorin King
Residency Placement: 4/5th Grade, Aspire ERES Academy
Currently Teaching at Aspire Millsmont Academy
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Undergraduate University: UC Santa Cruz
Degree Earned: BA in Theater Arts, minor in Latin American Literature
Why I Chose Aspire: I chose Aspire because I was interested in being a part of an organization with quality education and a devoted teaching staff. I am excited for the coming year, watching my students grow, and learning everything I can.
Lucy Garcia
Residency Placement: 5th Grade, Aspire Port City Academy
Currently Teaching at Aspire Port City Academy
Hometown: Gilroy, CA
Undergraduate University: CSU Monterey Bay
Degree Earned: BA in Psychology, minor in Business Management for Non-Profits
Why I Chose Aspire: What drew me to Aspire is that they serve and provide educational opportunities among urban areas where most students are underrepresented minorities that qualify for free or reduced lunch. Before I was aware of Aspire, I had a deep passion to begin a school just like it, where education was involved with the teachers, parents, and community members all working together to foster student’s futures. Yes, I thought I was on a revolution but instead, became part of an organization that already sparked that flame some years ago. I feel so blessed to be part of the evolution of something that will tilt California’s educational system, so that we can shift numbers, grasp hearts, and inspire minds.
Martha Venegas
Residency Placement: 3rd Grade, Aspire Huntington Park Charter School
Currently Teaching at Aspire Huntington Park Charter School
Hometown: Bell Gardens, CA
Undergraduate University: Occidental College
Degree Earned: BA in English and Comparative Literary Studies
Why I Chose Aspire: I like that Aspire is a caring and loving family that provides everyone that is involved with the organization the help and support necessary to succeed.
Mary Morris
Residency Placement: Kindergarten, Aspire ERES Academy
Currently Teaching at Aspire East Palo Alto Charter School
Hometown: Oakland, CA
Undergraduate University: UC San Diego
Degree Earned: BA in International Studies: Political Science
Why I Chose Aspire: I was drawn to Aspire because of its reputation for changing the odds for urban students and have grown the love the passion and dedication of the organization’s staff.
Olivia O'Bryon Mackey
Residency Placement: 4/5th Grade, Aspire Alexander Twilight College Preparatory Academy
Currently Teaching at Aspire Alexander Twilight College Preparatory Academy
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Undergraduate University: UC Davis
Degree Earned: BA in International Relations and Spanish
Why I Chose Aspire: Aspire is inspiring. I am in awe of the organization-wide commitment to hard work, collaboration, innovation, and student success.
Sara Heaps
Residency Placement: 7/8th Grade Science, Aspire East Palo Alto Charter School
Currently Teaching at Aspire East Palo Alto Phoenix Academy
Hometown: Alameda, CA
Undergraduate University: Stanford University
Degree Earned: BA in Human Biology, Honors in Education
Why I Chose Aspire: Aspire is an incredible organization where 100% of its members believe in the mission. Aspire students, teachers, administrators, and staff alike are unbelievably hard-working, collaborative, and inspiring. I couldn’t imagine working for a better organization!
Soren Rosier
Residency Placement: 6th Grade Humanities, Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy
Hometown: Berkeley, CA
Undergraduate University: Harvard University
Degree Earned: BA in Sociology and Political Science
Why I Chose Aspire: I like that every team member seems very committed to the mission of the organization. I like that the hierarchy among members of Aspire is less palpable than in most places as management is very down to Earth and helpful. I like that Aspire is an incredibly ambitious organization, expanding rapidly to bring a great education to more students who lack good schooling options.
Stacy MacDonald
Residency Placement: 1st Grade, Aspire Alexander Twilight College Preparatory Academy
Currently Teaching at Aspire Alexander Twilight College Preparatory Academy
Hometown: Clarksburg, CA
Undergraduate University: CSU Sacramento
Degree Earned: BA in Liberal Studies
Why I Chose Aspire: I love that the school and students hold high expectations for themselves!
Tina Ferris
Residency Placement: 4th Grade, Aspire Firestone Academy
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate University: State University of New York at Purchase Degree Earned: BA in Art History
Why I Chose Aspire: I like the mission of Aspire to close the achievement gap in this state and in this country; I am drawn to Aspire because of the dedication of its staff to effect real change. Every day that I have worked with Aspire, I feel that I am making a difference and creating meaning in young student’s lives.