Biography

I am a faculty member of the Child Development and Education Department,  and former Director for the Institute of Community and Civic Engagement (ICCE) at De Anza College.

As a faculty member and former Department Chair, I am responsible for the preparation of early childhood professionals, the development of curricula and programs focused on inclusion of children with special needs. I have been instrumental in creating access to community college course work for Spanish-speaking early childhood workers. I am also involved in community development projects. At the college level, I  serve as the coordinator for the Division's Early Intervention Project ,Advisor for special programs, the coordinator for the Child Development/English as a Second Language Project, the facilitator to the Literacy to Academic Development Project (a grassroots effort in the Castro Elementary School community in Mountain View) and has supported the De Anza Puente Project as a member and mentor, among other endeavors of community involvement.

From 1988 to 2000, I was the executive director of Community Family Services, Inc. (CFS) in San Jose, California for 10 years. CFS is an early childhood program whose services are provided through a network of family childcare homes in targeted areas. For over 15 years, I have conducted a variety of trainings in both English and Spanish throughout the Bay area, as well as at the State level. The professional development training has included family development, parent leadership, career development, organizational strategic planning, communication, leadership, and professional planning and development for early childhood professionals. I am featured in instructional videos for KVIE PBS Kids Ready to Learn and Early Steps to Reading Success Project.

I am committed to actively participating in community organizing and advocacy on children and family issues at the state and local levels.  In March 2009, I was appointed to the San Jose/Evergreen Community College Board of Trustees.  I have served as the  Co-Chair of the Santa Clara County Early Education Local Planning Council; Member and Facilitator of the Santa Clara Inclusion Collaborative; Advisor of the Warmenhoven Institute for Inclusion; Commissioner for the City of San Jose Early Care and Education Commission; member of the California Association for Bilingual Education; and Board Member of the Parent Services Project National Board. I have a bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico and a Masters Degree in Special Education from San Jose State University in San Jose, California.

Courses Taught at De Anza

• Child, Family, and Community Interrelationships, CD 12
• Foundations of Early Childhood Education, CD 50
• Observation and Assessment of the Young Child, CD 52
• Exceptional Children, CD 60
• Partnerships with Families in Early Childhood Education, CD 72

Education

• B.A. in Psychology
• M.A. in Education, Special Education