My work with the district caught the attention of a school reform movement called “Different Ways of Knowing” which provided me with the chance to work in low performing public schools across the US training teachers on the latest uses of technology to enhance learning.

While the experience was fantastic, I missed my own classroom of kids so I came back to Torrance Unified as a 5th-grade teacher at Seaside Elementary.

For 12 years I worked with an amazing team of teachers and we earned a great reputation as a grade level with kids and parents in the neighborhood. However, the budget cuts in 2009/2010 decimated our ranks (and my teaching spot) which made the future look bleak for me to continue as a teacher.

Ironically, those cuts were the impetus I needed to start Mr. J’s Academy and with the help of 10 loyal families, the dream of my own school began.