I believe that what makes the City of Brea a unique place to live is the people who live here and love Brea as much as I do. There is so much pride and ownership amongst the people of our community. Staying involved in our city, including the schools in BOUSD, is both interesting and important to me.

Growing up in Brea…

I first moved to Brea when I was 5 years old. I attended Mariposa Elementary, Brea Jr. High School and graduated from Brea Olinda High School, where I also met my husband, Steve.  I received my Bachelors of Science Degree in Child Development from California State University of Fullerton, as well as a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. After getting married and starting our family, my husband and I decided  the best place to plant our roots was Brea. We both had positive educational experiences here and wanted the same for our children. The schools were the deciding factor for us. The small town feeling of Brea was a bonus. Brea is a place where you can rarely go to the store, sporting event, or out to dinner without seeing someone you know. For our children, this is what has made Brea a safe, secure place to grow and learn.

Background in Education…

Education has always been my passion…it’s part of who I am! I have been involved in education in one form or another my whole life. Learning about learning is exciting to me. After college, I became an elementary school teacher in Anaheim City School District, (now known as Anaheim Elementary School District). The majority of my students came with challenges ranging from socio-economically disadvantaged, language barriers, immigration issues, special needs, and family struggles.  It was very eye-opening and the my first experience with equity and diversity. It was also very rewarding. I felt determined to make a positive difference  in the lives of my students. I was up for the challenge, soon creating after school programs to for students who needed homework help, as well as collaborating with other teachers in the classroom to better serve our students. I looked forward to going to work each day! It was there, where my husband and I were given the opportunity to adopt our oldest son, Bernardo.

Our family…

We have four kids, three who have all attended and graduated from schools in BOUSD.  Our oldest son, Bernardo, now 38, served in the military, and is now working as a UPS driver. Tayler, 25, went to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, received her Bachelors and Masters degrees and is now a high school biology teacher. She is married to a Brea alum. Jessie, 21, just graduated with a Bachelors in Aerospace and is working for Blue Origin.  Our youngest son, Nathan, 20, is a mechanical engineer major at Arizona State.

As most families experience, our children’s activities were the center of our lives (soccer, cheer, choir, and academics). Watching them grow has been a joy! Through them, I have experienced all of the grade levels and the challenges/successes that come them. What an incredible journey this has been so far!

School involvement…

After deciding to leave teaching to stay home to raise our children, and work in our family business, I still felt drawn to education. Right away, I became involved with my own children’s learning and haven’t stopped ever since. I was a parent volunteer for 18 years on many different levels; In the classroom, as the PTO Fundraising Coordinator, PTO, PTA and PTSA President at several sites, School Site Council Member, Booster Board Secretary and President, and as a substitute teacher for BOUSD.

City involvement…

I was appointed to the City of Brea’s Planning Commission in 2012, where I served as Vice Chair. I served 2 years until being elected to the BOUSD School Board in 2014. I am grateful for that experience, which gave me incredible insight into local government and our City of Brea, making me feel even more fortunate to live in this community. That opportunity also helped me understand the importance of building positive relationships between the City of Brea and BOUSD. Building respectful relationships with the city has been an asset to me as a School Board Member. Brea’s kids are all of our kids and we must work together to build a strong foundation for them.

Community Volunteer…

I joined the Rotary Club of Brea 10 years ago and served 9 of those years as the Fundraising Chair. I used my experience as an event planner as the coordinator of the Orange County Food and Wine Festival, Rotary’s one and only fundraiser. Together, with support of the community, Brea Rotary has raised and donated tens of thousands of dollars to BOUSD programs, teachers and projects. I finished my year as Brea Rotary President and am now serving as the co-treasurer. I am so proud to be a part of a group of people who all live by Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self.” They make me a better person!