Self-introductions

[cgao]

Hi everyone! We are looking forward to meeting and getting to know you in person over the next few months, but please use this thread to introduce yourself for now.

Please upload a photo of yourself. Go to "my account," then click on the edit tab, and upload a photo at the bottom. Make sure you click save!

[clay dube]

Hi Folks, I'm the lead instructor for the seminar. I work with Catherine at the USC US-China Institute. I have taught at both the secondary and college level. I've taught Chinese history, Japanese history, US history and world history. I greatly enjoy working with teachers and am looking forward to this seminar. I enjoy photography and travel, both close to home and in Asia. I like small towns. Here's a photo of a old, totally stereotypical, Chinese restaurant we saw in Lompoc not long ago.

[Cynthia Stults]

I'm Cynthia and I teach 4th grade at Warner Avenue Elementary in West LA (near that other, lesser educational institution). I took the East Asia since 1800 back in the fall and was amazed at how much I learned and how much I enjoyed my Saturdays in the seminar. I currently live in the Santa Clarita Valley, but will be relocating to Thousand Oaks this summer or next. I love to work out and run, and typically try and get an 8 mile treadmill run finished before we have seminar on Saturdays. I'm very curious about the opening of Disney's newest live-action reboot of Mulan. Does it have any roots in Chinese folk lore? If so, how much has Disney sanitzied it???

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

[Meghann Seril]

Hello! My name is Meghann Seril. I'm a third grade English teacher in the Mandarin dual language program at Broadway Elementary in Venice. I'm looking forward to our sessions and hoping to find ways to incorporate my learnings into my classroom instruction.

[Sandra Flores]

Hello all! I am Sandra Flores and I teach Spanish and Latin American Studies/ Mexican-American Studies at North Hollywood High School.  This is my 7th year teaching, I was at a Catholic school and recently moved to public.  I LOVE traveling and learning about new cultures.  

[Brigid Schmidt]

Hello! My name is Brigid Schmidt-Mello. I teach 6th and 8th grade English at Paul Revere Middle School in Brentwood. This is my 4th year teaching, although my first year as a Middle School teacher. I perviously worked in elementary and as an art teacher. I am from Michigan and avidly follow Michigan and Detroit sports. (Go Blue!) My husband and I are runners and love to travel. See you all soon! 

[Esther Dupree]

Hello, everyone!  I am Esther Dupree and am in my 5th year for LAUSD for a self-contained class for students with moderate to severe autism.  I currently teach at Mendez High School near Little Tokyo.  I also have a social science credential and teach credit recovery classes.  My class has a theme of "One City, Many Cultures" as we explore the many cultures that make up Los Angeles.  We go on field trips and do research so that we can learn more about the rich history of Los Angeles.  I am so looking forward to enriching my understanding of China as we learn in this seminar.  My husband is from Nigeria and we were married last July.  I grew up in Orange County, but have lived in Alaska, Jerusalem and Sacramento.  I love to travel and my favorite place in the world is Monterey, CA.  See you all tomorrow!

[Jessica Ng]

Hello, everyone. My name is Jessica Ng (pronouncec "ing") and I currently teach ETK at Carthay in Mid-City. This is my 4th year teaching, though I have a number of years of experience teaching in an early education center previous to moving to elementary. I am a native Angelena who loves to travel and visit at least one new place every year. By night, I sing Eastern European folk music and practice aerial arts. Looking forward to finding out ways to teach this topic to my littles.

[Chad Espinoza]

Hello, my name is Chad Espinoza. I am currently and ELA and ELD teacher at Tajima High School in Echo Park. This is my 5th year teaching high and 8th year teaching overall. I am excited to begin this course. I taught for several years in Korea, and while I learned much, I am still excited to continue to gain insight into such a deep and immense culture. I hope that this course will provide me tremendous insight and knowledge, so that I can effectively share it with my students. 

[Samantha Auerbach]

Hello, my name is Samantha Auerbach. I teach 4th grade at Carthay Environmental Studies Magnet and I love it! I'm in my third year of teaching and have taught 4th grade all three years. I'm from Los Angeles and love to explore new restaurants around LA. I love to travel and explore new places, but I also love to stay home and hang out with my pug, Yoda. I'm excited to learn new things to bring back to my 4th graders. 

[Alma Ochoa]

Hi Everyone : )

I'm Alma Ochoa.  I'm a math teacher.  I've een teaching for 14 years with LAUSD and I'm currently at Sylmar CHS and have been there for the past 6 years. 
Outside of work I really enjoy running and exercising.  I've ran several marathons including Boston and have completed several Spartan races. 
I'm really looking forward to taking this course and learning about Asia.

[Billie Johnson]

Hi my name is Billie and I teach 6th grade ELA and History in Pasadena at McKinley School. I am a second year teacher and the more I teach I want to know more.  I always look forward to these courses to get learn how to teach content in depth and pick up presentation preparation and delivery tips.

[Hilda Dixon]

Hi everyone!! My name is Hilda Dixon. I am a special education teacher. I work at Murchison Street Elementary. This is my 6^th year teaching. I think that I have an inquisitive mind. This is why I am looking forward to expanding my horizons about the Chinese history.

[Betsy Ures]

Hello everyone!

I'm Betsy Ures and I am a title-1 coordinator at Plasencia Elementary in Echo Park. I love learning new things, running, and cooking for my friends and family. I'm looking forward to the next few weeks of learning.

[Mario Ruiz]

Hey! My name is Mario Ruiz and I am currently a Special Education Teacher with the Glendale Unified School District. I am in my 4th year of teaching Special Education, but I am currently in my 9th year of working with students with special needs. I'm looking forward to this seminar and learning some cool things about Asia! 

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