Laurie Ramirez, Ph.D. Program Coordinator I, Early Care and Education [email protected] 831-784-4141 (office) Laurie comes to MCOE with an interesting variety of both educational and community outreach experience. Prior to entering graduate school, Laurie worked as an adult teacher at a welfare-to-work program, assisting students with GED prep, English classes, as well as a community outreach worker connecting students with needed services. Laurie holds a Masters and Ph.D. in Education from U.C. Berkeley. Her graduate work findings reaffirmed her beliefs that high expectations both at home and in schools, along with educational support systems that take into account the unique personalities of the student population are critical for student success. Laurie believes that only by having the multi-faceted components of children’s lives all work in unison can a child truly thrive. Laurie is excited to work alongside the MCOE community as well as community partners and stakeholders to build improved early childhood systems in Monterey County. Eliza Gomez, M.A. Program Coordinator II, QRIS [email protected] 831-783-5289 (office) @Together4NINOS Eliza is the Quality Rating & Improvement System Coordinator for Quality Matters. She is a strong advocate for ensuring ALL children have access to high-quality early childhood programs. She leads to evoke quality improvement efforts in culturally responsive practices informed by local work and grounded in research. Her grassroots background provides a wealth of experience and knowledge as a strategic partner in coming together collectively for positive outcomes. In 1991, Eliza began her career with the Soledad Unified School District as a CSPP and Migrant preschool teacher. She worked with preschool professionals to provide on-site coaching. As well as implemented a myriad of preschool and family literacy programs. Eliza’s practitioner journey includes being a program director, site supervisor, and family home visitor. Eliza is a pioneer as the first mentor in Monterey County for the California Early Childhood Education Mentor Program with Hartnell College. Areas of speciality: ● Child Development ● Community Partnerships ● Setting up equitable learning systems Areas of speciality: ● Program Development ● Early Literacy ● Child Development ● 40 Developmental Assets ● Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors
Belen Muñoz Program Specialist, Early Care and Education [email protected] (831)755-0300 Ext. 1437 Belen provides support to the Early Care & Education Services team in facilitating a countywide effort to increase the UPK teacher pipeline. Belen is a native of Monterey county and has worked in the education community for 10 years in Salinas, serving as a classroom teacher and high school accounts clerk. She received a BA in Liberal Arts with a focus in the Humanities. Belen developed a strong sense of devotion for education when she worked with the youth in this community. This experience gave her a deep appreciation for educators seeking to improve the quality of education; one program at a time. Areas of speciality: ● Community Partnerships ● Setting up equitable learning systems ● Counseling supports and resources
Emiliano Valdez Director, MCAET, The Media Center for Art Education and Technology [email protected] 831.755.0393 As an arts educator and curriculum developer, Emiliano has dedicated the last 20 years of his career to serving programs and arts organizations across multiple counties in Region V. Notably creating the after school, English Language Learner Visual and Performing Arts curriculum CASA de Milagros for the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Emiliano has proudly represented Monterey County Office of Education as the CCSESA Creativity at the Core Community Arts Organization Lead. He has spent the last six years as a founding teacher for the Luis Valdez Leadership Academy, a Visual and Performing Arts charter high school in East San Jose, where he developed the career pathway curriculum for the school’s Digital Media Production program. Emiliano’s passion is to build hands-on learning programs dedicated to serving the career pathways of film, television broadcasting and digital media production while improving inclusion and representation in those fields. Areas of speciality: ●Visual Performing Arts ●Career Technical Education ●Arts, Media and Entertainment ●Film / Television Production ●Theatre Technical Design ●Digital Media ●AME Curriculum Sean True Manager of Fab Lab Program [email protected] 831.755.0300 ext 1497 Sean brings 28 years of experience in public education to the role of Fab Lab Manager. He has been a classroom teacher, site administrator and most recently served as the Senior Director of Education Services for MPUSD. Those experiences inform his work in supporting schools and districts in understanding the role that digital design and fabrication skills can play as a key part of the instructional frameworks that our schools are implementing. He spent nearly 20 years in the classroom where he focused on creative approaches to learning that leveraged maker skills. He has also been supporting teacher and leadership training both at the district and the university level. Sean is also the Technical Director for the Monterey Peninsula Ballet Theatre and previously served in that role for the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo. Areas of speciality: ● Curriculum and Instruction ● Curriculum Adoption and Program Pilots ● Digital Fabrication ● Visual and Performing Arts ● Wood and Metal Working ● Teacher and Leadership Training ● Theatrical Production and Design Picture coming soon!