I come to the Newport Beach campus with over 20 years of experience in teaching and managing campuses. I have worked  in middle and high school settings as Teacher, Curriculum Developer, Department Chair, Dean of Students and Assistant Head of  School. A lifelong learner, I have a Bachelor’s in Studio Art, Master’s degrees in both Education and Information Science, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership.

I am a mother to two adult sons and in my free time am an avid reader and pickleball player. I am thrilled to be at the Newport Beach campus and look forward to getting to know students and families during the school year.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from the University of California, Davis, a Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies from Missouri State University, and my Master of Arts in Education (along with my teaching credential) from the University of Phoenix. I have spent most of my educational career teaching Social Sciences (History and English/Language Arts) at a private high school in the Bay Area. I have been with Futures for about a year and a half. Professionally, I have a great affinity for teaching and mentoring students with learning differences as well as much experience teaching multiple Advanced Placement courses (including US History, World History, European History, English Language, English Literature, Government, Microeconomics, and Macroeconomics). 

Outside of my professional commitments, I have coached 15 years of high school women's basketball at two different high schools in Northern California and have been coaching youth and high school soccer for the past 10 years. I live in Aliso Viejo with my wife, Tracy, and a daughter, Erica, and a son, Davin, both in high school.

 

I work with families and students to guide them into the best programs to accomplish their educational objectives. Since graduating from California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies/Teacher Education, I have been in management positions working with families to further their educational goals and find the right programs for their children to flourish in. During the past 10 years, I have worked in educational environments with students and families including tutoring centers and after school programs. Most recently, I was a center director for Sylvan Learning in Irvine and before that I was a center director at the YMCA of Orange County. In these types of roles, I have had the opportunity to help families as a teacher, counselor, and guide to reaching their personal and academic ambitions. 

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two young children, surfing, playing guitar and playing soccer.

I provide administrative support and help with scheduling. I enjoy all of the interactions I get to have with our students and parents. I enjoy being able to help students with any of their concerns and help guide them to ensure their academic success. 

My hobbies include traveling, trying new restaurants, cooking and spending time with my loved ones. I am very passionate about helping people and I enjoy binge watching shows.

Fun fact: I have traveled to Saudi Arabia to explore a variety of historical sites. 

I love the interactions I get to have with the students and seeing how they thrive in the one-to-one model. I am responsible for all the scheduling for the student/teachers and support in enrollment efforts.

My hobbies include traveling, discovering new restaurants to try, hiking and shopping.

Fun fact: I have played golf since I was eight years old and played in high school and college, but haven’t touched a golf club since my last college game.

Over the course of nine years, I served as Campus President at two award-winning vocational colleges, working with my teams to turn both colleges around, tripling student population and launching community outreach and referral generation initiatives that served as a cornerstone for the colleges' success. 

Prior to my career in education, I enjoyed a seven-year career in international market development, living in London, UK and Washington, DC. I earned my MBA from Duke University in Durham, NC and my BA in music from Pomona College in Claremont, CA. I love music and recently played the boomwhackers at a world premiere concert at Pomona over the summer!  

I have a passion for education, exploration and innovation. As such, I am very excited to join the Futures Team, support and serve the campuses, grow the So Cal region and spread the word about Futures throughout California!

Ashley’s goal is to empower students to achieve success. She designs and manages programs that promote student engagement, persistence, and leadership. This includes training and coaching staff in the fulfillment of our obligations within these programs. Using student-centered decision making, Ashley assesses and refines programs to ensure high quality learning. Program outcomes are presented to members of our Futures Advisory Board, consisting of valuable parents, students, and teachers. 

Ashley dedicated several years in higher education as an administrator and psychology lecturer. She has a bachelor’s degree in human development from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Harvard University.

Nicole joined the iEducation family in 2014 and has served a variety of roles, such as Director of Admissions and Outreach, Regional Director of Admissions and Outreach, Director of Leadership Growth and Engagement, and Director of Post-Secondary Services. In her current role, Nicole is committed to serving our families in a powerful way with their college and post-secondary plans. 

Nicole earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a Bachelor’s Degree in Media and Communication from Muhlenberg College. She also holds a certificate in College Counseling from UC San Diego. Before joining the iEducation team, Nicole worked in Higher Education as Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at her alma mater in Allentown, PA, as well as at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. After moving to Texas, she served as Director of Admissions for a Pre-K -12th grade International Baccalaureate private school where she discovered her passion for working with students at the secondary school level.

Nicole brings enthusiasm to her work and is excited to support all of Fusion and Futures campuses with their leadership, college counseling, and post-secondary needs. Ask her about her love for puppies (beagles, specifically!), chocolate, coffee, and running with her husband and son. The secret to all of her energy… lots of coffee and dark chocolate!

June is the Director of School Quality serving all 16 + campuses in California. Prior to Futures Academy,  June was a center director for Sylvan Learning Centers, and also worked as an assistant director for an after-school program. June has over 10 years of experience working with students of all grade levels. She has a passion for education and believes each and every student deserves a chance to reach his or her fullest potential. She received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Liberal Studies/Teacher Education from Dominican University of California, and her multiple subjects teaching credential from California State, Los Angeles.

As the English Department Lead, I help both students and teachers alike get the most out of their English courses. As an English teacher, I hope my students walk away from their courses with me having discovered at least one author or poet they thoroughly enjoyed while demonstrating an improvement in their writing skills. I have also spent a lot of time making sure the AP English courses are as interesting as they are rigorous and that they adequately prepare the students who take them for the AP exams. Aside from English courses and managing clubs, I also teach history classes. Outside of classes, I have been the advisor for several clubs on campus (Cooking Club, Yearbook, and ASB). My goals with these clubs are to guide the students in building skills that will help them outside of school and in the future and creating a fun, happy environment on campus. Overall, I really enjoy seeing students grow and discover their identities, both inside and outside of class.

Outside of teaching, my hobbies include traveling, discovering new restaurants to try, cooking & baking, reading & writing, and singing. I look forward to teaching and getting to know each and every one of my students and learning about their interests as well!

Since joining Futures Academy, I have been lucky enough to build strong relationships with both staff and students - and I look forward to continuing. Teaching has been my passion for over a decade, and I’ve been fortunate to make some great friends along the way. Working at the Newport Beach campus has been a wonderful experience and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next academic year.

I am a deeply curious person, thus my interests are wide-ranging to say the least. I enjoy playing music, studying languages, gardening, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. I’ve spent several years living and working abroad in various countries, which has only strengthened my passion for learning and experiencing life in all of its varieties.

Fun fact: My most cherished travel souvenir has got to be our lovely Vietnamese cat: Bánh Mì.

I mainly teach Spanish, but also teach some Social Studies. I graduated from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania with a major in Spanish. I have a single-subject Spanish teaching credential and a Master’s degree in Language Development. I chose to spend my junior year abroad in Madrid, Spain living with a non-English speaking family and attending a Spanish university. I also lived in Cuernavaca, Mexico with a family for a summer.  Both were fantastic experiences!  Not only did I study language, culture, history and art in Spanish, but I was immersed in the culture and gained insights I share with my students.

I so appreciate the opportunity to teach students one-on-one after being a classroom teacher in the public school system and having 35 students per class. I am now able to customize the pace, assignments and teaching methods for each student to maximize learning. I also enjoy the chance to get to know my students better on a personal level.

Although I grew up in New Jersey, I have lived in San Clemente, California for the last 12 years with my husband, John, our two children, Drew and Grace, and our adorable rescue dog, Gigi. In my free time, I enjoy yoga, reading, walking the beach trail, biking and trying new restaurants. I never take the beautiful weather here for granted!  

I have been working here since March of 2017 and absolutely love it! I have the responsibility of teaching English; however, I also fill the role of the College Readiness Counselor. I graduated from California State University of Fresno, where I earned a B.S. in Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology. I am passionate about mentorship and genuinely seek to positively impact the lives of my students. I genuinely love my job and strive to make a difference! If the students saw themselves through my eyes, they would never question their abilities or potential! 

Aside from teaching, my hobbies and passions revolve around my family and exploring this beautiful world we live in! I just recently moved to Newport- back in 2017- and love everything it has to offer! Coming from a very small town has kept me well-rounded and down-to-earth, but I definitely prefer all the food, entertainment, and activities that a bigger city has to offer. I have a wonderful husband and four stepchildren, who I call my own! I thoroughly enjoy staying active, weight lifting, hiking, art museums, music festivals, and the beach. 

I am just about to start my sixth year here at Futures. I love the one-to-one model because we are truly able to transform our students and make them realize how successful they can be in their classes. Many of our students had never realized it before at their traditional schools. Watching them make that realization is amazing.

I have a 4 year old son named Westin who does nothing but make me smile.

Fun fact: I once beat Tiger Words…in basketball. He destroyed me in golf.

I have two bachelor’s degrees in Electrical Engineering and Business-Economics from the University of California, Irvine. I started tutoring Math and Science when I was an undergraduate student and that was when I found my passion for teaching! Watching the students conduct experiments and apply what they learned in class motivates me to work harder, specifically for our dynamic students.

There are three people in my family and I am the only child, but I am not spoiled! Although I am the only child, I never felt alone because I am sociable and have a lot of friends.  In my spare time, I enjoy hanging out with my friends, love reading novels, and am thrilled about watching scientific movies.

Fun fact: I am a child at heart! I love watching Disney cartoons and play video games on my phone as way of relaxing.

I have been a teacher in various schools and subjects for 15 years. Working here has been my favorite by far. I enjoy the one on one instruction and getting to know my students and their learning styles in a more personalized manner.  

I have been married to my husband for a year and a half. We enjoy camping, bike riding, off roading, and going on road trips. We have a car and a dog who often times come along on our adventures.

Fun fact: I have traveled to all 50 states. 

I graduated from Otis College of Art and Design with a BFA degree in illustration. Since graduating I’ve worked as a Display Artist building 3D sculptures, Freelance Illustrator illustrating and designing children’s picture books, and Art Teacher teaching art to kids grades K- 12 at local schools, at the Los Alamitos Community Center, and at the Cerritos Library.

The best part about teaching is watching my students grow in confidence, seeing them excited about accomplishing a project, and seeing them motivated to want to learn. As an Art Teacher at Futures Academy, I plan to bring this same sense of excitement for learning and accomplishments to my students.

I love to travel with my family and explore new cultures. My art and stories come from different cultures and the wonder and possibilities of the world around me.

Fun fact: When I’m not writing and illustrating children’s books, I love to watch and read about archeological and anthropological discoveries.

I teach all levels of math, including Math 7, Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus Honors, Calculus, and Integrated Math 1, 2, and 3. My work experience consists of working as a college tutor, a substitute teacher for 3 years, and a full-time math teacher in the public school system. I grew up following the footsteps of my parents and older siblings, always seeking higher education. Throughout the process, I found that I loved learning different ways I can approach math. I had friends who struggled with math and they always asked for help. That is the beauty of math, there are multiple ways we can find a solution to a problem. I love showing this to my students and I want them to seek more ways. I enjoy working at Futures Academy, as I am able to work one-to-one with students. The way I teach and approach a concept, may be different than how I teach another student, and that is what makes the one-to-one approach so unique!

I come from a family of nine and parents whose careers use a lot of math! My siblings all work in careers that either are in the education system or helping the community.

Fun fact: My mom is a math teacher and my dad is an engineer, and coincidently, I am a math teacher and my husband is an engineer.

I currently teach ASL, levels 1-4 at the Newport Beach campus. I have been teaching for only a short time, but previously I had a number of years doing one-to-one private tutoring that followed the education model used here at Futures. I absolutely love the campus atmosphere. The teachers, staff, and kids couldn’t be any sweeter. The environment is extremely welcoming and encouraging.

I am very close with my extended family, and we all see each other one to two times a week for dinner. Other than anything to do with Sign Language, I love musical theater and independent movies.

Fun fact: I have traveled to 17 countries so far!

I currently teach middle school and high school math. I love being able to connect with my students in ways I couldn't have in a traditional school setting. I enjoy working at Futures, Newport Beach. For me it has been a blessing in disguise. The staff is very supportive and the administration has provided me all the support necessary to succeed here. 

I'm married and have a son. I love to watch sports, basketball and football. I also love to try new things such as food, places and hobbies. During my breaks you can find me at the gym or out with my family.

Fun fact: I love to exercise and drink smoothies. My favorite basketball team is the Orlando Magic!

I love and have the passion for mathematics!! Its amazing how mathematics can be applied in all fields! It is my passion and hobby to teach the beauty of mathematics to students. It is an amazing feeling when students learn, get better at it and succeed. I have been tutoring mathematics since 2005. My experience teaching/tutoring for more than 15 years, has made me great at working with students of all different backgrounds.

My wife, my 4 year old daughter, my 2 step sons and me, love to travel and explore new places. We love to try different types of food of all different countries and cultures. One of my greatest hobbies is the gym. Working out leads to: be healthy, happy and positive attitude!

Fun fact: I love to dance merengue!

Currently, I am the lead teacher of the Spanish department at Newport Beach. I am responsible for keeping up to date with curriculum changes, educational approaches and providing any support my fellow instructors need. I also represent my campus as a member of the Advisory Council. The Council meets regularly with other campus representatives, as well as corporate office, with the goal of improving all aspects of campus life. I enjoy performing my current roles because I value an environment that allows me to learn something new everyday, work with passionate instructors and help young adults achieve their goals.   

I enjoy watching documentaries, discovering new music and being active. I don't have much time to read, so I cheat by watching documentaries.  

Fun fact: I taught myself how to play the guitar and played in a band when I was in college.  

I graduated from Biola University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. While studying in college, I worked as a teaching assistant for Organic Chemistry and Microbiology. I also spent one year researching fruit fly genetics. Since graduating, I have worked in a pharmaceutical lab performing clinical trials for the Ebola vaccine. I teach math and science at Futures Academy, and I have made it my mission to make challenging concepts fun and approachable for my students.

I enjoy playing sports and going to the beach with my wife. I love traveling with my family, and I am always excited to try new and unique foods.

Fun Fact: At any time of the day or night I will drop everything to talk to you about science fiction or fantasy.

I have over 12 years of teaching experience in both public and private districts. I am passionate about teaching mathematics for grades 6-12. I graduated from California State University of Northridge, earning a B.A. in Economics with an emphasis in Mathematics. Teaching is my top priority while embracing and challenging each student’s uniqueness with customized lesson plans. I like to emphasize the 'think outside the box' approach. I am an enthusiastic, committed teacher who strives to create a positive atmosphere that encourages productive learning.

When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family or outdoor activities like hiking, backpacking and playing soccer. 

I teach middle school and high school English literature at Futures Academy. In the past, I taught English as a Second Language (ESL) at different schools in Orange County and internationally as well. Most recently, I spent three years in Mie, Japan teaching middle-school English. Teaching is such a job because not only do I love reading all different kinds of books, I also enjoy helping students make broader connections from what they learned in class to their daily lives. The skills learned in English class are used not only at school so I believe it’s important to help students achieve their full potential in class. 

I am a certified nerd at heart. I grew up with a love for all things fantasy, including Disney, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star War, and other such franchises. My hobbies are reading, watching movies, swimming, and playing with make-up.

Fun fact: I have lived in 4 different countries (South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and the USA). 

Currently, I am a science teacher and I love this opportunity to make a difference as an instructor. I have experience as a professional tennis instructor and as a private tutor for various subjects. I acquired my teaching credential and Master’s degree in teaching at Chapman University. Being able to utilize the one-to-one style allows for better learning and more chances of setting students up for success. Being able to customize the learning material and experiences for my students is what I am able to do here. I like that there are higher-quality interactions between my students and I. As a result, I can more accurately gauge my students’ progress. I love teaching because I get to learn with the students. Campus life is great and very welcoming. I always look forward to it!

I love my family and we always do our best to support each other. Tennis is a significant part of my life. As for some of my hobbies and interests, I enjoy reading, playing video games, traveling, and exploring Japanese culture.