Prisma is the world’s most engaging virtual school that prepares kids for the ever-changing world of the future. Our team of educators have a diverse background of experience on the cutting edge of teaching and learning, whether they’ve worked in brick and mortar schools or dynamic online environments. In our Meet the Team blog series, you’ll get to read more about the amazing educators behind Prisma.

Where are you based? 

I currently live in San Juan Capistrano, California, which is actually where I grew up. After almost a decade in Spokane, Washington, my husband and I recently moved down to Southern California to be closer to my family (and the ocean, of course!).

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Tell us a little bit about your background in education prior to joining Prisma. 

I grew up with a school principal as a mom, so I have always been deeply interested in and passionate about education. 

Before I came to Prisma, I worked with low income and refugee youth at a nonprofit in Washington. The kids in this program struggled greatly within the traditional education system, so my main goal was to help advance their education through a creative and personalized approach that would engage their curiosity. For nearly a decade, I had the privilege of mentoring the children in this program while also developing new systems and strategies to help them grasp the concepts they were missing at school. 

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What is your favorite part about your role at Prisma?

My favorite part about coaching at Prisma is the relationships with learners that we get to build through intentional one-on-one time. So much of that time is spent learning about their lives, their interests, and the things that make them uniquely who they are. 

The beauty of coaching at Prisma is that we get to use that knowledge to make each child’s learning journey personal and meaningful, which brings such an element of joy to workshops and live meetings.

In addition to being an amazing mentor coach, you also play a leading role in organizing our extracurricular clubs and enrichments! What exciting developments can learners expect from the program next year? 

We’ve got tons on the horizon, and I think learners are going to love the options that are opening up next year. We’ll be starting a Prisma Parliament, where learners can engage in a student-government enrichment and open up learner-led conversations about how we can continue improving Prisma. Their perspectives are vital, and I love that this new avenue of feedback and opportunities to make change is opening to them. 

We’re always looking to incorporate real-life challenges into the world of learner-led clubs at Prisma, so learners that want to lead a club can expect a new process for applying to be a club leader, which models a job application and interview process. 

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If you could pick one skill that all kids should master to prepare for the world of the future, what would it be and why? 

Communication! It’s seemingly simple, but I believe communication is a crucial skill to learn early in life. It’s important for kids to understand that communication looks different for everyone, and we can practice identifying a person’s preferred form of communication. 

By nurturing their communication skills, kids will be better equipped to navigate diverse perspectives, work collaboratively with others, and contribute positively to their communities. And, as we watch technology continue to shape our world, being able to communicate effectively, not only through digital mediums, but also through face-to-face interactions will be an increasingly valuable tool. 

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What do you like to learn about, or what is something new you learned recently? 

I spend a lot of time trying to learn about the ways that our brains process information, emotion, and knowledge from our senses. I’m fascinated with the way that thoughts and experiences shape our brains, and I love getting to explore different approaches to supporting and enhancing the brain's ability to process these things. I’m passionate about finding the right approach to learning not just for my learners, but for myself, too.

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