I finished my B.A. in liberal studies at the Master’s College in Santa Clarita, California and have been active in the educational field since 2001. I worked as an instructional aid and substitute teacher for LAUSD for six years before moving to Northern California. There I worked three years as a long-term substitute and temporary Special Ed. teacher at the Santa Clara County Office of Education. Also during this time, I worked with a forum of private schools called Challenger Schools where I served as a short and long-term substitute teacher for highly gifted students.
Originally I did not plan on becoming an educator. I was seeking a job and was informed by a principal (family friend) that LAUSD was administering a test for potential employees. I took the test and, to my surprise, passed. After a spiritual conversion experience I felt compelled more than ever to pursue my education for the purpose of educating local youth, whom I consistently worked alongside.
USC is a school for the urban community, which is why I was attracted to the program. I am a product of this unique community since I was born and raised here in South Central Los Angeles (literally, down the street).
When I reviewed the research being carried out by USC, I noticed that it matched my own interests. Primarily, it piqued my interest in the use of technology to enhance education and the commitment to equity in academic excellence among minority students. What better place was there for me to learn? I was confident from touring the program and reading the course descriptions that USC offered the knowledge, skills, mentor-training and technical platform that I needed to become a professional teacher.
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For MAT@USC students in the Los Angeles area, Ebow organizes a weekly Friday study group that is resuming its meetings starting today, 9/10 at 5 PM. If you want to participate, head to the Lab across the street from USC (between the Galen Center and Radisson Hotel). The group will do an introductory icebreaker, review class syllabi (please bring a copy of yours for each class) and then discuss different study strategies. The group is fun, friendly, and committed to helping one another succeed in the MAT@USC and beyond.
If you’d like to know more about how MAT@USC can prepare you to earn your California teacher credential and make a difference in your local community, contact our Admissions office at 888.MAT.1USC or email us at matadmit@usc.edu.
