I started off at Higher Ground in the Spring of 2015, volunteering through a class I was taking at the University of Arizona. As a Math Major with a Computer Science and Educational Leadership Minor, I aspired to become a math educator before I found Higher Ground. After volunteering for a semester, I was eager to get more involved and took on the Academic Coordinator AmeriCorps State position. I spent a year making all the kids do the one thing they hated most - homework - of course, while trying to make it fun and engaging!

I continued my AmeriCorps journey with Higher Ground for another year as a VISTA focusing on systemizing our academic practices, expanding our relationship with schools, and bridging the gap between home, school, and Higher Ground with regards to academics.

Because of my experience with both the schools and AmeriCorps, Higher Ground hired me on to manage our expansion into the schools through the Community Schools Initiative. I worked with 16 AmeriCorps members placed in the schools and at Higher Ground to build up each school as a community resource hub and coach students to improve attendance rates. After a year as Community Schools Program Manager, I became one of our first Community School Directors, collaborating with school leadership and managing a team of AmeriCorps members to establish a full-service Community School site at Hollinger K-8.

As Higher Ground continued to expand and Community Schools started to become more in demand, I transitioned into the role of Associate Executive Director to ensure quality for all of Higher Ground's programs and services.

Now that we find our world transitioning to virtual spaces, Higher Ground recognizes just how important technology is. I now serve as our Technology Director and am excited to focus my efforts on putting Higher Ground in the palms of our youth, families, and partners through the development of strategic life-coaching app.

For an undergrad who just wanted to share her love of math with kiddos, Higher Ground has become a place where I can help shift the culture of education – all because the kids, the staff, and the mission captured my heart from the very first moment.