It is an honor and a privilege to serve the El Marino Language School community as your principal. I grew up as an English Learner in a Spanish-speaking household, and that experience shaped everything I believe about education — that bilingualism is a gift to be cultivated. El Marino has been cultivating that gift for over 30 years through both its Spanish/English and Japanese/English dual immersion programs, and as a National Blue Ribbon School, this community has set a standard of excellence that I am committed to growing and sustaining.

I began my career as a bilingual teacher serving migrant families in California's agricultural communities, and that foundation has guided every step of my journey since. I bring over 26 years of experience in California public education, including five years as an elementary principal at dual immersion schools, six years as an assistant principal at the middle and high school levels, district-level leadership overseeing English Learner programs across 19 school sites, and most recently county-level coordination at the Los Angeles County Office of Education. I hold a BCLAD Spanish credential, a Clear Administrative Services Credential, a B.A. in Theater Arts from UC Santa Cruz, an M.A. in Education from San Jose State University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from CSU Long Beach. My doctoral research focused on arts integration as a transformative practice for Spanish-speaking English Learners, exploring how the arts can serve as a powerful vehicle for academic success, student voice, and cultural affirmation. I am passionate about bringing that research to life at a school like El Marino, where dual immersion and the arts are already part of the school's identity. I serve on the board of Create CA, a statewide arts education advocacy organization, and am a member of the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA) and the LACOE Equity and Social Justice Team, Latinx Subcommittee.

I am an adoptive father, and I understand the trust families place in their school's principal because I place that same trust in my own son's school every day. El Marino has a rich culture, a proud legacy, and a community that shows up for its children every day. I am here to build on those strengths as a collaborative partner alongside families, staff, and students to enhance student achievement and nurture a genuine joy for learning in every classroom. Go Dolphins!