Although the afternoon dismissal bell has rung at Torrance Elementary School, principal Gerardo Yepez (Class of '93, liberal studies; '96, teaching credential) isn't finished working. He can be seen at the school's entrance, greeting parents and saying goodbye to students for the day. Yepez, a Los Angeles native, taught for many years in the Lennox and San Mateo-Foster City school districts before becoming an administrator. During his eight years as principal at Torrance Elementary, the school has consistently earned high marks on real estate sites such as redfin.com and trulia.com for its high level of service to the community, a population that Yepez regards as his ... Read More
Teacher Education
Samantha Hernandez: Sociology Major Featured in U.S. Dept. of Education Promo for Latino Education
Samantha Hernandez didn't set out to be a role model when she made good grades in high school and got accepted to college. In fact, if anything, she was inspired by others to set those goals. However, the sociology major at California State University, Dominguez Hills has become just that as the featured student in a Spanish-language video produced by the U.S. Department of Education intended to promote college attendance among children of Latino families. The video is also currently streaming on the website for the documentary “Waiting for Superman.” For Hernandez, her educational superheroes were her teachers at Bishop Conaty - Our Lady of Lorreto High School in Los Angeles. “The ... Read More
CSU Dominguez Hills, CAMS High School Awarded HP Catalyst Initiative Grant
A proposal submitted by California State University, Dominguez Hills in collaboration with the California Academy of Math and Science (CAMS), a magnet high school located on the university campus, was one of only 30 from 11 countries to be approved to participate in HP's Catalyst Initiative, a global social innovation program designed to develop more effective approaches to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education worldwide. As an HP Catalyst Initiative recipient, CSU Dominguez Hills and CAMS will become a member of the HP Catalyst Initiative's Pedagogy 3.0 Consortium, which includes institutions from a number of countries working toward a similar goal of creating new ... Read More
Daniel Terrazas: Music Student Performs with Award-Winning Latina Songstress
California State University, Dominguez Hills music major Daniel Terrazas, who plans to become a music educator, worked with Mexican singer and gold- and platinum-record winner Graciela Beltrán during a recent three-day tour in Oklahoma. Terrazas works part time around the Los Angeles area playing the tuba for Mexican Folk groups in music styles including banda sinaloence, sirreno, and norteños. One of the promoters for these groups offered Terrazas the opportunity to play for the widely popular Latina singer Beltrán, who has performed corridos, romanticas, and baladas for at least a decade. Terrazas took the job to get a higher level of professional experience under his belt. “The ... Read More
Jennifer Bleidistel: Easter Seals Ambassador Teaches Children in Infant Toddler Center
Jennifer Bleidistel works at the Infant Toddler Center at California State University, Dominguez Hills as a teacher assistant. Like the other staff members, she takes care of the children there, many of whom have disabilities like autism or Down syndrome. For the last ten years, she has read to them, fed them breakfast and lunch, and tended to their basic needs during the day. But unlike most the other teachers and assistants, she shares something in common with many of her young charges - she too has a disability. Bleidistel, who was born with Down syndrome, found the job at the Infant Toddler Center through Easter Seals Southern California's Supported Employment Program. On Oct. 9, ... Read More