This page is dedicated to our UCI MAT bilingual alumni. In 2021, our Bilingual Authorization Program became official! We are now the UCI MAT BAP. Our first cohort graduated in the spring of 2022.
2023 Alumni News
Congratulations to:
100% Hired-Majority in Dual Immersion Schools This Year
Alina Alvarez (’23) for her first teaching position at Pío Pico Elementary School in Santa Ana. She is a second grade dual immersion teacher.
Alejandra Atilano (’23) for her first teaching position at Russell Elementary Language Academy in Garden Grove. She is a third grade dual immersion teacher.
Natalia Casillas (’23) for her first teaching position at Thomas Edison Elementary School in Anaheim. She is a TK dual immersion teacher.
Tiara Dorta (’23) for her first teaching position at Linda Verde Elementary School in Lancaster. She is a third grade dual immersion teacher.
First Day of School 2023-24- Monica Gomez
Monica Gomez (’23) for her first teaching position at Gates Elementary School in Lake Forest. She is a second grade dual immersion teacher.
Diana Hernandez (’23) for her first teaching position at Las Palmas Elementary School in San Clemente. She is a first grade dual immersion teacher.
Estefania Hurtado (’23) for her first teaching position at Gates Elementary School in Lake Forest. She is a sixth grade dual immersion teacher.
Shannon Klug (’23) for her first teaching position at Gates Elementary School in Lake Forest. She is a kindergarten dual immersion teacher.
Melanie Macias (’23) for her first teaching position at Ben Hulse Elementary School in Imperial. She is a third grade teacher.
Shirley Nieto (’23) for her first teaching position at Las Palmas Elementary School in San Clemente. She is a third grade dual immersion teacher.
Elizabeth Ocampo (’23) for her first teaching position at San Juan Elementary School in San Juan Capistrano. She is a fifth grade dual immersion teacher.
Litzi Ocampo (’23) for her first teaching position at Orange County Educational Arts Academy. She is a fourth grade dual immersion teacher.
Sarai Pacheco (’23) for her first teaching position at Orange Grove Elementary School in Anaheim. She is a third grade dual immersion teacher.
Esmeralda Rodriguez (’23) for her first teaching position at Edward B. Cole Academy in Santa Ana. She is a second grade teacher.
2019 Alumni News
Congratulations to:
100% Hired-Majority in Dual Immersion Schools This Year
Carol Baez (’19) for her first teaching position at Norton Science Language Academy in San Bernardino. She is teaching third grade in their dual language immersion program.
Jasmin Farfan (’19) for her first teaching position at Fremont Elementary School in Riverside. She is teaching second grade in their dual language immersion program.
Araceli Jimenez (’19) for her first teaching position at a charter school in Los Angeles.
Genesis Rodriguez (’19) for her first teaching position at Ladera Palma Elementary School in La Habra. She is teaching fourth grade in their dual language immersion program.
Brenda Robles (’19) for her first teaching position at Orange County Educational Arts Academy in Santa Ana. She is teaching fourth grade in their dual language immersion program.
Selem Victoria (’19) for her first teaching position at Gates Elementary School in Lake Forest. She is now part of the first grade two-way immersion team and will work alongside other bilingual alumni at this school.
2018 Alumni News
Congratulations to:
Julio Flores (’08) for being selected Gates‘ Teacher of the Year. He has mentored many bilingual undergraduate and graduate level students from UCI’s School of Education. He currently is a master teacher for the school.
Pajama Day at Gates-Alumni (back row; Julio Flores, far left), Student Teachers (front row) and Administrators (center)
100% of our 2018 Graduates are Teaching at Dual Immersion Schools this Year
Karina Calderón (’18), Elisa Garcia (’18) and Grisell Garcia (’18) for their first teaching positions at Gates Elementary School in Lake Forest. All three are teaching a two-way immersion (Spanish) class; Elisa and Grisell in first grade and Karina in third grade. With the addition of Elisa, Grisell and Karina this school year, there are now eleven bilingual MAT alumni working at Gates.
Jennifer Chang (’18) for her first teaching position at College Park Elementary in Costa Mesa. She teaches first grade in their Mandarin immersion program.
Kimberly Ibarra (’18) for her first teaching position. She is a fifth grade dual immersion (Spanish) teacher at Orange County Educational Arts Academy in Santa Ana.
Twin Day at Linda Verde Elementary
Jennifer Chavez Lanza (’18; on left) and Margarita Rodriguez (’18; on right) for their first teaching positions at Linda Verde Elementary School in Lancaster. They both teach in the dual immersion (Spanish) program; Jennifer teaches first grade and Margarita teaches kindergarten.
Braulio Lopez (’18) for his long-term substitute teacher position at Monroe Elementary Language Academy in Garden Grove. He was later hired as a middle school language arts teacher of Spanish at Orange County Educational Arts Academy in Santa Ana for 2019/20.
Luis Morales (’18) for his first teaching position. He is a second grade dual immersion teacher at La Ballona Elementary School in Culver City.
Lisa Tan (’18) for her first teaching position at Bergeson Elementary School in Laguna Niguel. She teaches third grade in their Mandarin immersion program.
2017 Alumni News
Congratulations to:
First Day of School at Gates Elementary
(Bianca Safai and Cristina Rubalcava)
100% Teaching at Dual Immersion Schools this Year
Joana Baires-Amaya (’17) for her first teaching position at Gates Elementary School in Lake Forest. She will be teaching sixth grade and transition to the two-way (Spanish) immersion program shortly thereafter. The school will be a full tw0-way Spanish immersion school in 2018-19.
Theresa Chaverot-Campos (’17) for her first teaching position at Viejo Elementary School in Mission Viejo. She will be teaching fourth grade in their two-way (Spanish) immersion program.
Brenda Gomez (’17) for her first teaching position at Viejo Elementary School in Mission Viejo. She will be teaching first grade in their two-way (Spanish) immersion program.
Diana Gutierrez (’17) for her first teaching position at Arbolita Elementary School in La Habra. She will be teaching kindergarten in their dual immersion (Spanish) program.
Berenize Leal (’17) for her first teaching position at San Rafael Elementary School in Pasadena. She will be teaching second grade in their dual language (Spanish) immersion program.
Hanah Lee (’17) for her first teaching position at Charles H. Kim Elementary School in Los Angeles. She will be teaching kindergarten in their dual language (Korean) immersion program.
Cristina Rubalcava (’17) for her first teaching position at Gates Elementary School in Lake Forest. She will be teaching the fifth two-way (Spanish) immersion kindergarten class on campus. Gates now only offers two way Spanish immersion classes to all incoming students.
Bianca Safai (’17) for her first teaching position at Gates Elementary School in Lake Forest. She will be teaching second grade in their two-way (Spanish) immersion program.
2016 Alumni News
Congratulations to:
Adrian Rodriguez on his last day of student teaching at Gates Elementary School.
Juan Figueroa (’16) for his first teaching position at California City Middle School in the Mohave Unified School District. He will be teaching sixth grade.
Gabriela Gomez (’16) for her first teaching position at Orange County Educational Arts Academy in Santa Ana. She will be teaching fourth grade in their dual immersion (Spanish) program.
Pablo Jimenez (’16) for his first teaching position at Marco Forster Middle School in the Capistrano Unified School District. He will be a Spanish world language teacher for sixth and seventh graders in their two-way immersion program.
Alejandra Lopez (’16) for her first teaching position at Gates Elementary School in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. She will teach ELD for students in grades 2-6.
Alanna Murphy (’16) for her first teaching position at Journey School in Aliso Viejo. She will be teaching first grade.
Adrian Rodriguez (’16) for his first teaching position at Cypress School of the Arts in the Hesperia Unified School District. He will be teaching sixth grade.
Alejandra Sanchez (’16) for her first teaching position as a high school diploma recovery teacher at Lincoln High Continuation School in Garden Grove.
Natalia Vu (’06) and Judith Au (’09) for launching the new Spanish dual language immersion program at Monroe Elementary Language Academy in the Garden Grove Unified School District. They both will be teaching the inaugural kindergarten class.
Judith Au and Natalia Vu
2015 Alumni News
Congratulations to:
Tanya Anaya (’15) for her first bilingual teaching position at Gates Elementary School in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. She will be joining the first grade dual immersion team and will work alongside two other bilingual alumni, Megan Gibbs (’14) and Kallie Flagstad (’10).
Araceli Brambila (’15) for her first teaching position at Whittier Elementary School in the Newport Mesa Unified School District. The school district launched two new dual immersion programs this year. Whittier Elementary School welcomed their first class of Spanish dual immersion students this fall. Araceli will be teaching first grade in their regular program.
Tiffany Kung (’15), for her first teaching position as a fourth grade bilingual teacher at Broadway Elementary School’s Mandarin immersion program in Venice. She is the second student to be hired at this school from our program.
Vivian Lam (’14), for her new teaching position at the newly launched Mandarin immersion program in the Newport Mesa Unified School District. She will teach the inaugural kindergarten class this year at College Park Elementary School. Prior to her position at College Park, she taught at Broadway Elementary School in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Marie Moore (’15), for her first teaching position teaching fifth grade math for the Foundation Academy Primary School in New Jersey. Foundation Academy Primary is one of four schools that make up the Foundation Academies.
Hector Perez (’15), for his first fourth grade teaching position at Edward B. Cole Sr. Academy in Santa Ana.
Samantha Salas (’15), for her first bilingual teaching position in kindergarten at Gates Elementary School in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. She will be joining a large group of bilingual alumni teaching in the school’s dual immersion Spanish program. Her team partner is fellow bilingual alumna, Amy Kohn (’14).
Evelin Villanueva (’15), for her first teaching position at Ridgemoor Elementary School in Sun City, Menifee Union School District. She will be teaching second grade.
2014 Alumni News
Congratulations to:
Srta. Barrocas, 2014
Marissa Barrocas (’14) for her first teaching position at Global Education Academy in Los Angeles. The school offers dual immersion programs in Korean and Spanish. It is also ranked among the top 10 California charter schools according to an annual USC report on charter schools. Marissa will be teaching in their dual immersion (Spanish) program as a kindergarten teacher.
Marco Castillo (’14) for his first teaching position as a second grade teacher at Vista San Gabriel Elementary in the Wilsona School District.
Peggy Chu (’14) for her first teaching position as a foreign language (Mandarin) teacher at Thurston Middle School in the Laguna Beach Unified School District. She will be a valuable member of their foreign language program which offers various languages to their students during and after school. Prior to enrolling in our teacher education program, Peggy was a professional interpreter and a Berlitz trained instructor.
Liliana Corona (’14) for her first teaching position at Viejo Elementary School in the Capistrano Unified School District. She will teach in their dual immersion (Spanish) program as a third grade teacher. Liliana will be the fifth bilingual alumna hired for their dual immersion program and will collaborate with fellow third grade teacher, Judith Au (’09), next door.
Cristal De La Rosa (’14) for her first teaching position as a support teacher at Extera Public Schools in Boyle Heights.
Kallie Flagstad (’10), for her new teaching position at Gates Elementary School in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. Kallie will teach in their dual immersion (Spanish) program as a first grade teacher. She worked as a long term substitute for a first grade teacher all of last year at the same school.
Megan Gibbs (’14) for her first teaching position at Gates Elementary School in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. Megan will teach in their dual immersion (Spanish) program as a first grade teacher. She will be the sixth bilingual alumna hired at Gates Elementary for their dual immersion program.
Wendy (Ramos) Gonzalez (’11), for her new dual immersion second grade position at Marshall Elementary School in the Magnolia School District. Marshall Elementary School has a new dual immersion program that currently offers grades K-2 and will continue to expand their program in the next few years. Prior to her new teaching position at Marshall, she taught at the Orange County Educational Arts Academy (OCEAA) in Santa Ana as a kindergarten teacher in their dual immersion (Spanish) program.
Amy Kohn (’14), for her first teaching position at Gates Elementary School in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. Amy will teach in their dual immersion (Spanish) program as a kindergarten teacher with fellow team teacher, Nancy Ruiz (’12). She will also have four other bilingual alumni teaching various other grade levels at Gates Elementary School.
Vivian Lam (’14), for her first teaching position at Broadway Elementary School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Vivian will be part of the first grade dual immersion (Mandarin) team. Broadway Elementary offers Mandarin or Spanish immersion to their students and is a school with a very long waitlist for incoming students; parents are often in the news for camping out overnight the day before enrollment begins.
New-New Lee (’14) for her first teaching position at Bergeson Elementary School in the Capistrano Unified School District. She will join the new bilingual second grade team in their Mandarin immersion program. Bergeson Elementary will continue to expand their program for the next several years.
Sandra Mora (’14), for her first teaching position at Las Palmas Elementary School in the Capistrano Unified School District. Sandra will be teaching in their dual immersion (Spanish) program as a second grade teacher.
Mary Lou Rodriguez (’14), for her first teaching position at El Sol Science and Arts Academy of Santa Ana. She will be joining the fourth grade team working alongside another bilingual alumna, Jessica Solis (’10).
Jocelyn Vargas (’13) for her new dual immersion kindergarten teaching position at the Orange County Educational Arts Academy (OCEAA) in Santa Ana. Prior to her position at OCEAA, Jocelyn taught at the Summit Charter Academy in Porterville. She taught a 5/6 combination class in their dual immersion (Spanish) program.
2013 Alumni News
Congratulations to:
Judith Au (’09), for her new teaching position at Viejo Elementary School in the Capistrano Unified School District. Judith will be teaching in their dual immersion (Spanish) program next year. She will be working with three other bilingual alumni: Lauren Guite (’12), Carin Hayward (’13) and Lisette Vega (’13). Prior to her new teaching position at Viejo, she taught at the Orange County Educational Arts Academy (OCEAA) in Santa Ana in their dual immersion (Spanish) program for several years.
Erika Espinoza (’13), for her first teaching position at El Marino Language School in the Culver City Unified School District. The school offers two dual language immersion programs for their students; the languages offered are Spanish or Japanese. She will be teaching fifth grade in their dual immersion (Spanish) program this coming fall. Erika will be the third alumna hired in this district. Marisela Padilla (’08) also teaches fifth grade in the dual immersion (Spanish) program at the same school and Susy Magaña (’07) teaches kindergarten at La Ballona, the district’s second dual immersion (Spanish) program.
Eston Greub (’13) for his first teaching position at Tyrrell Elementary School in the Hayward Unified School District. He will be teaching a 5/6 combination class in the fall.
Carin Hayward (’13), for her first teaching position at Viejo Elementary School in the Capistrano Unified School District. The school has a new dual immersion (Spanish) program and will be expanding to third grade in September, 2013. Carin will be teaching kindergarten in their dual immersion program this coming fall. Viejo will have four alumni working in their dual immersion program next year.
Esther Lau (’11) for her first teaching position at College Park Elementary School in the San Mateo-Foster City School District. She will be teaching a 2/3 combination class in their Mandarin Immersion Talented and Gifted Program. Prior to her new position at College Park, she was an instructional assistant for Woodbury Elementary School in Irvine.
Alice Lee (’13) for her first teaching position at College Park Elementary School in the San Mateo-Foster City School District. She will be teaching a fifth grade class in their Mandarin Immersion Talented and Gifted Program. Alice will be teaching with fellow alumna and childhood friend, Esther Lau (’11), next year. Alice was the first UCI multiple subject bilingual (Mandarin) candidate placed at a dual immersion (Mandarin) program this past year at Marian Bergeson Elementary School in Laguna Niguel.
Melissa Madrigal (’12) for her new teaching position at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy in Los Angeles. She will be teaching kindergarten in their developmental bilingual (Spanish) program. Prior to her new teaching position, Melissa was very busy as a substitute teacher in the Saddleback Valley Unified and Lennox School Districts.
Natalia Martinez (’06) for her new teaching position at Marshall Elementary School in the Magnolia School District. She will be teaching first grade in their dual immersion (Spanish) program. Prior to her new teaching position at Marshall, she taught at the Orange County Educational Arts Academy (OCEAA) in Santa Ana as a kindergarten and first grade teacher in their dual immersion (Spanish) program from 2006-2013. She also was a master teacher for many of our bilingual candidates at OCEAA.
Jocelyn Vargas (’13) for her first teaching position at Summit Charter Academy in Porterville. She will be teaching a fifth and sixth grade class in their dual immersion (Spanish) program.
Lisette Vega (’13) for her first teaching position at Viejo Elementary School in the Capistrano Unified School District. She will be teaching second grade in their dual immersion (Spanish) program. Lisette will be joining three other bilingual alumni working at the school.
Araceli Zamora (’12) for her first teaching position at the Excellence and Justice in Education (EJE) Academies Charter School in El Cajon. She will be teaching fourth grade in their dual immersion (Spanish) program. Prior to her new position at EJE Academies, she was a foreign language (Spanish) teacher for the LePort Schools and LangoKids in Orange County.
2012 Alumni News
Congratulations to:
Heather Christensen (’11), for her new full time teaching position at Northwood Elementary School in the Irvine Unified School District. She will be teaching fourth grade.
Kallie Flagstad (’10), for her first teaching position at St. Edward the Confessor Parish School, a private school in Laguna Niguel. She will be teaching Spanish enrichment classes.
Julio Flores (’08), for his new teaching position at Gates Elementary School in Lake Forest. He will be teaching sixth grade in their dual language immersion program this coming fall.
Lauren Guite (’12), for her new teaching position at Viejo Elementary School in Mission Viejo. She will teach first grade in their dual language immersion program. The school will continue to expand their program for the next several years. They currently offer dual language (Spanish) classes up to second grade.
Haydee Hernandez (’10), for her new kindergarten position at the Celerity Cardinal Charter School located in Sun Valley. The school has 240 students enrolled in grades K-5.
Cherise (Narr) Jones (’10), for her new teaching position at Mark Twain Elementary School in the Lawndale Elementary School District. She will be teaching third grade in their dual language immersion program this coming fall. Prior to her new position, she worked as a kindergarten teacher for the new dual language immersion program at Viejo Elementary School in Mission Viejo.
Ruben Lopez (’11), for his new teaching position as an eighth grade teacher at Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary School in the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District. Ruben worked as their intervention teacher last year.
Giuliana Morales (’07), for her new teaching position at Torch Middle School in La Puente. She will be teaching sixth grade English language arts and social studies.
Nancy Ruiz (’12), for her new SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) kindergarten position at Gates Elementary School in Lake Forest. Prior to her new appointment, she was a long term substitute for one of their fourth grade dual immersion classes since the beginning of the school year.
Sarah Shin (’12), for her first grade position at Monte Vista Elementary School in the Glendale Unified School District. The school is located in La Crescenta and will be expanding their Korean dual immersion program to third grade next year.
Jessica Vargas (’09), for her new teaching position abroad. She will be teaching English to second graders and will be an active member of the English Curriculum Council at the Colegio Mexicano Reynosa in Mexico. Prior to her position in Mexico, Jessica was a bilingual (Spanish) kindergarten teacher for schools in Wyoming and Colorado. She has also co-authored a bilingual book, Las aventuras de Colitas y Trencitas: A veces. The book can be purchased at Amazon and Barnes & Noble for $13.95.
Hannah Wachs (’11), for her new teaching position at the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County. She will be teaching a transitional kindergarten class in their Early Childhood Learning Center. The students at this school also learn Hebrew as part of the curriculum.
2011 Alumni News
Congratulations to:
Lidia Alvarez (’11), for her new second grade position at Lincoln Elementary School in the Ogden School District in Utah. Lincoln Elementary School has a dual language program with plans to open more classes in the future. Lidia had three job offers in Utah!
Heather Christensen (’11), for her new part-time position at Gates Elementary School in Lake Forest. She will be working as their Option II English Language Development (ELD) teacher. Prior to her new placement, she worked as a long-term substitute for one of their dual language second grade classrooms.
Kallie Flagstad (’10), for her new Spanish teaching position at McDowell, a private school in Laguna Niguel.
Julio Flores (’08), for his new teaching position at Las Palmas Elementary in San Clemente. He will be teaching fourth grade in their dual language immersion program this coming fall. This will be his third year teaching.
Jessica Gavilan (’10), for completing her first year of teaching fourth grade at El Sol Elementary School, a public charter dual language school in Santa Ana.
Eric Joaquin (’10), for completing his first year of teaching kindergarten at Frank Paul Elementary in Salinas, California.
Ruth Larsen (’10), for her new teaching position abroad. After completing her credential year, Ruth moved to Guadalajara, Mexico and worked at two private universities teaching advanced English. She is currently working at one of the two universities, ITESO Universidad de Jesuita de Guadalajara, where she continues to teach advanced English.
Ruben Lopez (’11), for his new teaching position as an intervention teacher at Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary School in the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District.
Susy Magaña (’07), for her new dual language fourth grade position at the El Marino Language School in Culver City.
Cherise Narr (’10), for completing her first year of teaching at the new dual language immersion program at Viejo Elementary School in Mission Viejo. Cherise had four job offers last year.
Wendy Ramos (’11), for her new dual language kindergarten position at OCEAA, a public charter school in Santa Ana.
Myuriel VonAspen (’11), for her new dual language first grade position at Gates Elementary School in Lake Forest.