Ms. Ortega is so happy to be a part of the EQ3 team and continue working with all of our scholars and families. At Equitas, Ms. Ortega found a school whose mission statement aligned with her values and call to education. Her experiences attending inner-city public schools gave her a clear perspective on the need for high quality and dedicated teachers to serve students and their families in order to get them to and through college. She was a first-generation college student and graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a BA in Liberal Studies with a special education concentration and her CA multiple subjects teaching credential. Throughout her time at LMU, Ms. Ortega worked with K-5 students as a reading and writing tutor, taught restorative art classes, and spent her summers teaching chemistry and biology to first and second graders at the California Science Center camp. In her free time, Ms. Ortega enjoys running, going to the movies, and exploring new restaurants.