Meet Dr. Jag

I have devoted my career to helping students grow into healthy, confident, and prepared young people—able to think critically, make strong choices, and build a future filled with opportunity. My own path in education was not always easy. As a child, I struggled to read—often feeling unseen and unsure of my place in the classroom. But with persistence and the support of educators who refused to give up on me, I found my voice and discovered my strength as a learner. Today, I carry that journey with me—not as a barrier, but as proof of what’s possible when people believe in you.

As a teenage mother, I faced challenges that could have derailed my future. But with the unwavering support of my grandmother, my mother, and trusted teachers, I persevered—finishing high school and becoming the first in my immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Those experiences didn’t define my limits—they revealed my potential and shaped my belief—and my purpose—that every child deserves caring adults who see their brilliance and open doors of possibility.

Over the past 25+ years, I have served students and families across California—as a special education, GATE, and general education teacher in Los Angeles and Emeryville, a principal in the Bay Area who led a school turnaround, and a county education leader serving as Executive Director at the San Diego County Office of Education and Chief of Learning and Accountability at the Alameda County Office of Education. In these roles, I led system-level efforts to strengthen teaching and learning, improve outcomes for students, and support districts in driving meaningful, lasting change.