My experience in education has only been at Hope School and the reason is my passion for students with disabilities. Years ago, I was on the path to becoming a Physical Therapist, but as with any path, it connects to many different paths.  A friend shared with me that AUHSD was hiring instructional assistants to work with students with special needs and he thought I would like it.  He was partly right.  I just didn’t like it…I fell in love with it.  I was hired as an instructional assistant to serve at an alternative school in the District, Hope School.  After just two months, I knew I wanted to be a special education teacher.  The students at Hope ran off with my heart and they have never given it back. Long story short, I transferred to CSUF and received my undergrad in Child and Adolescence Studies with an emphasis on Special Education.  I was given the opportunity to begin teaching on an emergency credential while I worked on my Master’s Degree and teaching credential in Special Education.  During my tenure as a teacher, I always believed that Hope could be the best school ever for students with disabilities and we had the best, the brightest, and the right people to make it happen. I was very excited about helping create the most epic school for students with severe disabilities (and still am). I was given different leadership opportunities at Hope.  I was a department chair, Professional Learning Committee Chairman, member of the Hope SPSA Development Team, and an inductee to the District Leadership Academy. During my tenure as a teacher, three of my past principals encouraged me to take the path of an administrator. I thought they were crazy but crazy or not I acquiesced to their prodding and got my admin credential. A year or so later, two weeks into the 2012-2013 school year, the Hope School assistant principal at the time got hired in another district, which springboarded me on my admin adventure into the “dark side”.  I was the assistant principal for 4 years. Since 2016, I have had the extreme pleasure and honor of being the principal of Hope School.