
Position: UE Coach, Los Angeles
What led you to your current position: I’ve always been passionate about working in the education sector. After college, I pursued a career as an educator for several years before realizing that I wanted to work more with vulnerable youth and help create a safe school environment for them. I received my master’s in social work while also working at a law firm that represented juvenile justice-involved youth and provided gang-intervention services. Through this career, I spent significant amounts of time on school campuses around Los Angeles while visiting my clients and observed school environments that further traumatized youth. This only reaffirmed my passion to create more trauma-informed and safe school environments that are welcoming for all students. I found the UE Coach role and knew that it was a career that would allow me to combine both my education and social work skills to create a safe and positive school environment for young kids.
What inspires you to do this work: I’m inspired by the connections I’ve made with kids throughout my professional career, by my own relationship with my son, and the relationships I’ve built with other professionals in this field. Seneca’s values completely align with my personal values, and I’m continuously inspired by the people I’ve met through Seneca who demonstrate these values in their work each day. I’m constantly learning from them and I’m very proud to be a part of a company with such a powerful and positive influence on the lives of others.
What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role: I facilitate a social skills group at my school site that focuses on increasing middle school self-esteem, healthy relationships and communication, and empowering young girls. It has been so rewarding to watch my students’ communication skills evolve and their self-esteem improve throughout the course of the group.
Share your life motto or something unique about yourself: I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 5 and I have 3 rescue dogs!