FluffyNinjaClassroom

I have over 20 years of experience teaching bilingual and ESL students, from elementary through high school. I’ve taught across content areas including Language Arts, Math/Science, and Spanish for Native Speakers, but my work has increasingly focused on supporting high school multilingual learners in academic language development. For the past several years, I’ve worked specifically with newcomer and developing English learners, helping them build the vocabulary, confidence, and structures they need to succeed in content classes and on high-stakes assessments. The resources I create are designed from real classroom needs—tools that support speaking, writing, and comprehension for students who are still building English while being expected to perform at grade level. My goal is to create resources that are rigorous, accessible, and engaging for students who are often overlooked in traditional materials.

I am an ESL advocate first and always. My students arrive in the U.S. carrying more weight than any teenager should. They leave behind homes, languages, routines, and the familiar — only to be dropped into a system where every class feels like an English reading test. Most want to give up. Most are overwhelmed. Many feel invisible. So I became their lifeline. For six years at the high school level, I’ve taught the students who are often expected to “be adults” before they’ve even had a fair chance to be kids. They come in scared, quiet, and unsure. My job is not just to teach them English — it’s to give them a safe place to breathe again. I teach because someone needs to actually care. Someone needs to help them see that the goal isn’t just passing TELPAS or STAAR — it’s learning to communicate, to advocate for themselves, and to grow into confident young adults. My classroom is built on: ✔ humor ✔ storytelling ✔ connection ✔ hands-on learning ✔ culturally inclusive resources ✔ and the belief that learning HAS to be fun Because when students laugh, when they feel safe, when they feel SEEN, learning becomes possible. I don’t teach so my students make me “look good.” I teach so my students see what they are capable of. If one lesson doesn’t work, we try another. If one explanation doesn’t land, we explore a new approach. My job is not to force them into English — it’s to teach their minds to soar. That is what Fluffy Ninja Classrooms is built on. That is what I bring to every resource I create.

My shining moments aren’t trophies — they’re transformations. A newcomer who finally speaks up in English. A student who once wanted to drop out deciding to stay. A classroom that turns from silent to joyful. A kid who says, “Miss, you’re the first teacher who actually gave a poop.” Those moments are my awards. And I build every resource with that same heart.

Bachelor’s in Fine Arts Specialization in Language Arts Spanish, Bilingual & ESL Certification 20+ years working with multilingual learners from PK–12 Specialized in high school newcomers, reading intervention, and academic language development Master's in Education Administration

I’m the creator of the Fluffy Ninja Universe — a story-powered ESL learning system filled with characters, missions, gadgets, and immersive activities that transform academic skills into meaningful adventures. Every resource I create is classroom-tested, scaffolded, culturally responsive, and designed to help students feel safe, confident, and excited to learn.