Jody Guarino, EdD
Jody is a teacher educator who supports teacher and student learning at the elementary level. She considers teaching and learning central to all of her work. Jody believes children, and adults, are sense makers and bring intuitive knowledge to their classrooms. Through the development of content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, knowledge for teaching, and understanding student thinking, her goal is for all students to be proficient. She has been a classroom teacher, district mentor, teacher on special assignment, and administrator. Working at district, state, and national levels, Jody has developed and implemented research-based professional learning with preservice and inservice teachers and administrators across the country. She has been involved in several research projects, understanding how teachers can learn to learn from mathematics teaching, investigating the use of video to support teacher learning, exploring professional learning that supports discourse and argumentation in elementary classrooms, and understanding and implementing school wide improvement initiatives in mathematics and english language arts. Jody works as Manager of the Teaching, Learning, and Instructional Leadership Collaborative.
John Drake
John is currently the Endowed Director of the Teaching, Learning, and Instructional Leadership Collaborative at the Orange County Department of Education. Previously, John was the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District in Orange County, California. He has been in public education as a teacher or administrator for 29 years. Through his 29 years in education, he has served in California and Georgia, and his service includes being a middle school language arts teacher, middle and elementary school principal, director of human resources and director of curriculum and instruction. John holds a bachelor’s degree in English from California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo, and a master’s degree in Education Administration and Supervision from State University of West Georgia.
Sue Kim
Sue identifies first and foremost as an advocate for childrens' thinking and providing them a voice in learning mathematics. Additionally she has a passion for learning alongside teachers to provide equitable and meaningful math instruction that position students at the center. Sue received her teaching credential and Masters of Education from Biola University in Southern California. She has been an educator for 15 years and has taught and coached across Tk-5th grade classrooms including Los Angeles Unified School District, El Segundo Unified School District as well as several other Orange County school districts. Sue has served as math facilitator for the UCLA Math Project. She is an alumni mentor of the Cotsen Foundation for the Art of Teaching and currently works as a Math Coordinator for Teaching, Learning, and Instructional Leadership Collaborative.
Myuriel von Aspen
Myuriel believes in fostering collaborative partnerships with teachers with the goal of advancing equitable, high-quality learning opportunities for all children. In her work as a teacher educator, she has planned and facilitated professional learning experiences designed to help teachers develop pedagogical content knowledge and cultivate an understanding of student thinking through an asset-based lens. She has both teaching and coaching experience in elementary schools including a Spanish dual-immersion setting. Prior to joining OCDE, Myuriel was the Coordinator of the Master of Arts in Teaching Program and a lecturer at UC Irvine, providing her the opportunity to teach and support pre-service teachers. Myuriel earned a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California Irvine, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Florida International University. She currently serves as Math Coordinator of the Teaching, Learning, and Instructional Leadership Collaborative.
Lisa Lambuth
Lisa is a passionate advocate for fostering positive mathematics identities in children, empowering all children to be confident thinkers and doers of mathematics at high levels. With a career spanning 27 years in the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District, Lisa has served as an elementary teacher, instructional coach, intervention teacher on special assignment, a mentor for the Cotsen Foundation for the Art of Teaching, and most recently, as a CGI math coach. She has also been a co-facilitator for the UCLA Math Project. Her diverse experiences have shaped her into a staff developer who thrives on collaborating with teachers to enhance mathematics teaching and learning. Lisa's goal is to come alongside teachers to notice the brilliance of their students and collaborate on how to guide them to deeper understanding. Lisa holds a Bachelor’s degree, teaching credential, and a TESOL certificate from UC Irvine, as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University. She is excited to work as a Math Coordinator with the Teaching, Learning and Instructional Leadership Collaborative team.
Karina Calderón
Karina is a dedicated learner with a deep commitment to enhancing educational experiences for students and supporting teachers in their professional growth. Holding a Master of Arts in Teaching From UC Irvine, Karina brings a strong background in educational leadership and instructional support. Her experience includes teaching in a dual-immersion setting, where she has fostered a dynamic, bilingual learning environment. Beyond the classroom, Karina has contributed significantly to mentoring student teachers and induction candidates, providing guidance that helps shape their instructional practices. Karina is dedicated to advancing equitable, high-quality math instruction and promoting effective teaching strategies. As a consultant for Student Achievement Partners, she has presented at webinars and conferences, and her modeled teaching strategies have been shared nationwide. Currently, Karina serves as the Math Coordinator for the Teaching, Learning, and Instructional Leadership Collaborative, where she continues to drive impactful change in math education.
