Our Faculty and Staff

Terrence Wright was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. As the child of two educators, he grew up with a passion for knowledge, reading, and music performance. Terrence earned a master’s in Educational Technology from California State University, Los Angeles, and received his administrative credential from USC’s School Leadership Academy.  As a school leader at New LA, Terrence is committed to the principles of equity and cultural proficiency in order to build an inclusive school community.

Miriam Gonzalez was born in Mexico and raised in Los Angeles. As a proud immigrant and DACA recipient, she brings a deep commitment to equity and advocacy to her education work. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and her master’s degree from Loyola Marymount University (LMU). Miriam has dedicated nine years to education, including six years as the 6th Grade Humanities teacher at New LA. She now serves as assistant principal, where she focuses on fostering a safe, inclusive, and rigorous learning environment for all students. On her days off, Miriam enjoys hiking, running, and spending time with her three dogs, Bruin, Zuko, and Azula.

Bianca Hernandez has been a dedicated social justice educator and teacher leader in various schools across the country for over a decade. Bianca grew up in Long Beach and understood from a young age that there was a lack of equity in education. Her journey as an educator began long before she chose a career. Bianca attended the University of Chicago, where she earned her BA in Anthropology and her Master of Arts in Teaching. After finishing graduate school in 2014, Bianca taught in Chicago Public Schools before moving to New York. In New York, Bianca continued her work as a classroom teacher in independent schools. Bianca always knew she would end up back in LA in order to give back to the community she considered her home; she returned in 2018. After returning to LA, Bianca taught Middle School History and Science. In addition to her classroom work, Bianca was the Humanities Lead and the Anti-racism and Diversity Lead at her former school. In these leadership positions, Bianca led her school’s efforts to center DEIJ work in every classroom. Bianca joined New LA as the Director of DEIJ in 2023. Bianca believes that teaching is political and that it is our job as educators to dismantle systems of oppression that show up in schools every day. This work will help our students become leaders that will fight for justice in their communities.

Bianca is excited to continue supporting New Los Angeles in their mission to create spaces that center identity, equity, and community for young people.

Xochitl Lira grew up in South Los Angeles. She earned her bachelors in Community Studies and Legal Studies from UC Santa Cruz. After graduating she began her career at a local charter school organization. During that time, she developed a passion for school operations, which led her to obtain a Masters degree in Public Administration from CSU Los Angeles. In 2011, she went on to become the Chief Financial Officer at a supplemental educational services provider. To enhance her leadership skills she went on to obtain her doctorate degree in educational leadership at USC. She is excited to be part of the New Los Angeles Charter School family and to support the achievement of all students.

Kate O’Brien was born in Los Angeles but grew up in a small town in Massachusetts. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College in Ohio. After college Kate moved back to Los Angeles intending to become an environmental educator but instead fell in love with progressive education in schools and sees environmental education as an important social justice issue that can be addressed through a curriculum that empowers critical thinkers and community activists in all subject areas. Kate earned a Masters in Teaching from National University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from UCLA. Before joining New LA in 2009 as a 6th grade science teacher Kate was a founding teacher at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy where she taught 4th grade and bilingual Kindergarten. She then taught K-6 science at Brawerman Elementary School. During her time teaching in elementary and middle school Kate took on many leadership roles which eventually led to becoming the Assistant Principal at New LA Middle School. In 2016 Kate returned to her elementary roots to lead New LA Elementary School as the Founding Principal. As Chief of Schools since 2019, Kate enjoys supporting all three New LA campuses and relishes the opportunity to grow and develop all schools and foster a school program in line with New LA’s mission of social justice and project-based learning. Her favorite part of working at New LA Charter Schools is working with the incredibly dedicated staff who always put students first.

Brooke Rios is a dynamic school leader who is committed to progressive education and social justice. She currently serves as the Executive Director of New Los Angeles Charter Schools. Prior to this role, Brooke was the Principal of New LA Middle School, where she led the school in being recognized as one of the best public middle schools serving low income students in Los Angeles. Brooke worked at Wildwood School before joining New LA, honing her craft as a progressive educator. She taught middle and upper school Humanities and coached track and cross country. After several years in the classroom, Brooke led the Wildwood Outreach Center, where she coached schools on the implementation of small, learner-centered educational programs. Brooke earned her doctorate in education leadership at the University of California, Los Angeles, where her research focus was on anti-racist and culturally responsive school leadership, and she holds a CA Clear Administrative Services credential.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Sylvia Barragan has worked in the education sector for over 20 years in a variety of roles. She earned her undergraduate degree in Business Management Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she first discovered her passion for working with youth while serving as an instructional aide in an after-school program. After returning to Los Angeles, Sylvia worked as a tutor, instructional aide, substitute teacher, and later as a 3rd–5th grade teacher at a private school. She also brings experience from the nonprofit sector, where she oversaw programming and planning for a social enterprise serving high school students. Sylvia joined New LA Charter Schools in 2017 as an After School Director and has since held multiple roles within the school’s operations team. She values collaboration and is passionate about creating safe, supportive environments where all students can thrive.

Tanya Castro is our Family Engagement Manager who joined New LA in 2023 with 20 years of experience in K–12 education, including leadership roles as an Assistant Director at a Boyle Heights based tutoring center, and a Student & Family Services Coordinator and Operations Coordinator at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy. She’s passionate about creating equitable and inclusive opportunities that empower students and families from diverse backgrounds. Tanya believes that when schools and families work together, we don’t just change and support individual student outcomes and experiences – we uplift families, communities, and future generations.

Tanya has been recognized with a Community Champion award from Saban Community Clinic (2023), featured in the Carnegie Reporter for her work in Family Engagement, and mentored high school females through the non-profit, GLOBAL Girls GLOW. For five years, she served as a Group Travel Leader with EF student travel programs to the East Coast, Central America, and Europe; bridging a gap for students to not only experience travel, many for the first time outside of Los Angeles, but also connecting families to accessible and enriching travel opportunities for their children. As New LA’s Family Engagement Manager, Tanya leads Enrollment and Recruitment efforts along with supporting Family Engagement programming and practices across our three school sites. She has implemented a cross site Class Ambassador volunteer group for parents/caregivers, established new community partnerships, and has organized community wide events including New LA’s Community Pop-Up Markets. In her free time, she enjoys making playlists, hunting for vintage treasures, and singing her heart out at karaoke.

Samuel Campos is a tech savvy tinkerer who has a passion for breathing life into faulty tech. He was born and raised in Los Angeles and went to the University of California-Merced, where he obtained his B.S. in Computer Science & Engineering. Since graduating, he had worked at a youth center named Central City Action Committee as a Youth Mentor and unofficial I.T. specialist. He then became a Code Sensei for Code Ninjas, teaching the younger generation the joy of programming and robotics and hosting various 3d modeling/printing and roblox game development workshops. These experiences taught him the importance of making sure every child has access to technology in order to make learning as efficient and fun as possible.

Samuel is excited to support New Los Angeles Charter Schools by making sure their technology is running smoothly to provide an uninterrupted learning experience for the younger generation.

Cinthia Caceres was born and raised in the South Bay of Los Angeles, and has more than13 years of experience in education. She graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science. Cinthia discovered her passion for working with children in education while attending college and working as a program leader for an after-school program. She found immense joy in the school culture and providing children with experiences to help them discover their potential. This experience ignited her journey to explore various paths within education, eventually leading her to discover her specialization in school operations. In her current role, Cinthia takes pride in her contribution to the overall success and functionality of the school. She is committed to advancing her career in school operations and making a meaningful impact on the school community. Outside of work, she enjoys Latin dance, outdoor activities, and travel.

Angeline Osorio was born and raised in Los Angeles. She graduated from California State University Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She is an alumni of a nonprofit youth leadership program called C5LA, which sparked her passion for education. She has served as a mentor for various leadership development and college readiness summer programs for the last 5 years. Angeline hopes to continue her academic journey and become a school counselor to inspire and guide students towards successful career paths of their own.

Crisitna Zendejas was born and raised in Inglewood. She is currenlty in the process of obtaining her degree in Early Childhood Development. She hopes that her academic journey can lead her towards a career as an elementary school teacher. She enjoys collecting and caring for her plants as well as spending time with her family.

Elizabeth Gonzalez was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles and is a mother of 6. She loves to hang out with her family and friends during her free time. She is currently working as a campus aide for the New LA Middle School and enjoys building relationships with the students and keeping the halls clear.

Luis Cervantes was born in historic South Central Los Angeles. Luis was a foster dad for 2 years and learned CPR during that time. He likes to hangout with his nephews on the weekend, play video games, and watch sports with them. He also ejoys cooking and watching movies.

Guadalupe Barron was born in Durango, México and grew up in Mexico. She likes to travel, dance and live a happy life.

Morgan Baker has been a dedicated educator at New LA for six years, committed to providing all learners with a rigorous and authentic education. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and earned her master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the American College of Education. In her classroom, Morgan strives to create a safe, friendly, collaborative, and welcoming environment that supports each student in discovering a passion for learning. She is excited to be teaching 6th grade Humanities this school year, and looks forward to continuing to build on the New LA mission pillars with her students. In her spare time, Morgan enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with her dog, Blu.

Abraham Lee was born and raised in Chicago, IL where he lived the majority of his life. He is a proud UCLA alumni and has dedicated the past decade to teaching middle school students the value of education and its importance in their future. His main goal in education is to see kids realize their value and self-worth in this world, and discover their passion for something that will carry them forward. He has taught in various middle schools in both Chicago and Los Angeles, and looks forward to bringing his vision and passion to the wonderful students of New LA.

Mr. Scutari (Mr. S.) was born and raised in New Jersey. He holds his Bachelor’s Degree in elementary/middle school education with a concentration in earth science (geoscience) and a Master’s Degree in curriculum and instruction. As a student himself, he was always curious about the natural world and wanted to find answers to his questions. Mr. Scutari is committed to giving students the tools to help them develop and answer their own questions, as well as help students become advocates for change. Throughout his time at New LA, Mr. Scutari has developed inquiry-based, hands-on programs that allow students to think critically and realistically about different math and science topics. He believes learning should be interactive, collaborative, and without a doubt, FUN!!

Barbara Lee is a Los Angeles native who grew up in Koreatown. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education Sciences from UC San Diego and is currently pursuing her master’s in Transformative Education at Loyola Marymount University. Passionate about student-centered learning, she strives to create an inquiry-based classroom that fosters curiosity, engagement, and a growth mindset. In her free time, she enjoys taking walks and playing games on her Nintendo Switch and iPad.

Estefani Rocha was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. She earned her bahelor’s degree in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in Psychology and Criminal Justice. She is passionate about helping students reach all of their academic goals.

Miguel Solis is excited to begin his first year teaching 7th grade math at New LA Middle School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from California State University, Channel Islands. Inspired by a passion for helping students recognize their strengths, Mr. Solis is committed to showing students that they are more capable in math than they may realize. His goal is to create a supportive and engaging classroom environment where all students feel confident tackling challenges and growing as learners. He believes that math is about building problem-solving skills that students can use in everyday life. Outside the classroom, Miguel enjoys playing and watching baseball and is a huge fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has played baseball since was 6 years old all the way through college.

Caitlin McNaughton is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Mills College. Since then, she has taught English in South America, earned her English teaching credential, completed a master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other languages (TESOL) from The New School in New York, and became a National Board candidate. This year, Caitlin is excited for her 10th year teaching and first year at New LA Middle School. She is passionate about making class meaningful for her students, building community, and supporting students to grow into their very best selves. With a strong background in teaching multilingual learners, Caitlin loves to help her students build their language awareness and become strong communicators. In her free time, you can find Caitlin working on all kinds of word and jigsaw puzzles, trying new foods, and playing soccer.

Adam Senack is spending his first full year at New LA. He started out as a long-term sub in ELA Intervention, and is starting his first full year at New LA as the 7th grade Humanities teacher. He is so excited to have his own classroom this year, and see the students grow throughout the year. Originally from Atlantic City, New Jersey, Adama moved to Los Angeles almost six years ago. When he is not in the classroom with his students, he loves to read, go to the beach, and spend time with family and friends. He is looking forward to an amazing school year.

Jillian Saenz was born and raised in Norwalk, California. She attended St. Paul High School and continued my education at Clarkson University in upstate New York to pursue a bachelors degree in Bioloigy while also playing college volleyball. She ultimately came home to California to finish school and graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hill, with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. Jillian began teaching at New LA in 2021 while completlting her master’s in Education. Along with teaching 7th grade Science, she also teaches high school Biology and Chemistry during the summer. Her love for science grew in the classroom as a young student and she hopes to bring that spark for science to students at New LA.

Camille Willis, a Los Angeles native, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and a master’s in Education with a focus on Cross-Cultural Education. She is deeply committed to both learning and serving others. Camille believes that academic success is rooted in strong relationships, clear expectations, and a safe, supportive classroom environment. She takes a whole-child approach to education, striving to meet each student’s unique needs, backgrounds, and interests to promote their overall well being. After spending three years teaching at New Los Angeles Elementary School, Camille transitioned to New LA Middle School, where she now teaches 8th grade Humanities. She looks forward to continuing her work with middle school learners, and further supporting their academic and personal growth during these pivotal years.

Cynthia Garcia grew up in Santa Fe Springs, CA. As a young child she knew the importance of education, teamwork, and a growth mindset. Her passion for learning made her realize that she wanted to have an impact on future students. As a student at Santa Fe High School, she played on the basketball team. Due to her dedication, commitment, and love for the game, her teammates voted her captain; she led her team to league champions. Cynthia then attended California State University, Long Beach. There, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts, and received two California credentials: a multiple subject credential, and a math single subject credential. She began her teaching career in 2021 in ABC Unified School District. From the moment she entered the classroom, she knew teaching was her calling. Now she is ready and excited to embark on this journey at New LA teaching 8th grade Math. She is thrilled to make a positive impact on her students and the community.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Kimberly Campos teaches 8th grade science and the robotics seminar. She attended the University of California, Davis, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Chicana/o Studies. She taught 6th and 8th grade science at another school district before she graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) with a master’s in Environmental Science. Kimberly loves science because she enjoys asking questions, collecting data & evidence, and exploring the world around her. Her favorite hobbies are crafting and drawing, hiking, and watching anime.

Lynse Griswold, aka Ms. Griz, is originally from Fairfield, CA. She is an educator and scholar with a deep commitment to literature, history, and social justice. She holds degrees from Sacramento State (CSUS) in English and Women’s & Gender Studies, where her academic focus centered on Black and queer literature, liberation, and intersectional theory. For 14 years she was a competitive gymnast, an experience that taught her discipline, perseverance, and resilience – qualities that she now brings to her teaching practice. Now in her third year of teaching, all at New Los Angeles Middle School, Lynse has found a true passion in blending her love for literature, history, and social justice into her Humanities classroom. She integrates critical thinking, storytelling, and culturally responsive practices to create inclusive and engaging learning spaces. Her teaching emphasizes the connections between literature, history, and sociology, encouraging students to think critically, connect deeply with texts, and see the relevance of their studies in their own lives and communities. In her free time, Lynse enjoys reading, listening to live music, crocheting, and walking in nature.

Deborah has worked as a school speech pathologist in Los Angeles for 13 years, helping students with communication impairments find their voice. She feels honored to serve this diverse community, learning and expanding her perspective with each student she meets. In her free time, Deborah enjoys designing digital games and playing Scrabble competitively. Deborah’s greatest accomplishment is her 1000-day unbroken Spanish Duolingo streak. She hopes to be bilingual one day.

Lindsey Bauer was born and raised in Boston Massachusetts. Upon graduating from Boston University, she moved to Los Angeles to attend graduate school at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles (MSMU), where she earned her master’s degree in Education, and two California teaching credentials. Lindsey received her Education Specialist Teaching Credential in Mild to Moderate Disabilities, as well as her Multiple Subject California Teaching Credential. This year marks Lindsey’s eighth year as an Education Specialist Teacher at New LA. As a special educator, Lindsey is committed to ensuring that every student receives a high quality education in an inclusive learning environment. She instills a love of learning in each of her students, and provides them with the necessary tools and strategies they need to be successful both in and out of the classroom.

Cristina Leshin was adopted from Nicaragua and raised in Los Angeles, California. She earned a Master of Science in Education and an Education Specialist Credential from Mount Saint Mary’s University. With over 25 years of experience in education, Cristina has dedicated her career to supporting students’ growth and success. She joined New Los Angeles Charter School in 2022 as an Education Specialist and is proud to be part of the school community.

Em Studebaker (they/them), a.k.a. Studebaker or Teach, was born and raised in Los Angeles. They earned their Masters in Education with an Education Specialist Credential from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA. Em is enjoying looping with their students from 6th grade and being with them in 7th grade this year. Em is passionate about encouraging learners to discover tools for their success in school. Outside of teaching and learning, Em enjoys watching women’s sports (LA Sparks and Angel City Football Club), cooking, drawing, and playing guitar.

Kenia Sanchez was born and raised in Los Angeles. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a focus on Public Administration and Chicano Latino Studies from California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). As a community activist, she has served as an organizer for a tenant and unhoused association. Her aspirations include establishing connections with all students, providing support throughout their academic journeys, and fostering a safe and inclusive environment for students.

Christiana Cobb-Dozier is the proud school counselor for New LA Middle School! She has been a school counselor since 2020 and loves caring for all students as they navigate our ever-changing world. Originally from Northern California, she received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Jose State University, and worked for a non-profit focused on mentoring African American college students. She went on to receive her Masters in Education for School Counseling from the University of Southern California (USC). Christiana considers her work as a school counselor a privilege to connect with all students and support them as they grow into the best versions of themselves. Her personal passions include hiking, skating, writing, and spending time with loved ones. She is the author of the children’s book “Racing for the People,” a story about standing for justice no matter your age. She believes our work as educators makes us advocates for justice, as we equip the next generations with the skills necessary to create a better world.

Javier Saenz grew up in Norwalk, California and attended Santa Fe High School. While there he played Baseball, Volleyball, and Wrestled. He continued his education and played baseball at Long Beach City College and was recruited to play baseball at Georgetown College in Kentucky on a scholarship. While there he won a Conference Championship, Regional Championship, and a shot at the NAIA College Baseball World Series. He graduated with a BA in Exercise Science and Masters in Education. Sports and working with youth have been his passions and his goal is to teach the importance of physical education, sports, nutrition, and health.

Greg Smith grew up in the midwest and the south before moving to Los Angeles in 2003. He attended Auburn University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, and played football. He has worked with children his whole life, and began coaching girls and boys youth sports in 2005. He has a passion for athletics and teaching his students the importance of healthy choices and staying active. He joined New LA in 2019 and is looking forward to another great year.

Tyler Oyakawa is a passionate teacher from Santa Monica, California. He holds a Masters in Teaching Mathematics from Loyola Marymount University, along with a bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience, and a minor in Mathematics from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). He began his teaching journey because of a desire to understand how people learn and make decisions. Now he’s thankful to be able to put those understandings into practice. His hope is for his students to become confident problem solvers and thinkers. He’s always excited when students can engage in productive struggle and grow by overcoming challenges. He focuses on supporting students to develop reasoning and collaborative skills to further develop their mathematics. In his spare time he enjoys playing the game of Go, reading, and the occasional game of tennis.

Born and raised on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, Melody Kawano is delighted to be back at New LA as the English Language Arts (ELA) intervention teacher. Over the past 10 years, she has dedicated herself to the field of education, with a special focus on reading and reading intervention. Melody holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and a master’s in Literacy. She has spent a significant part of her career helping students improve their literacy skills. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time in nature. She is very excited to be part of this community, and is looking forward to another wonderful school year.