Michael believes that working in education is an act of hope and an investment in the future. Originally from Castro Valley, he earned his BS in Social Sciences from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and an MA in Learning Technologies from Pepperdine University. He values creating spaces where students feel heard and challenged, often encouraging them to engage with the real world by connecting with experts and exploring ideas beyond the classroom. Outside of school, Michael enjoys bodyboarding, running, cooking and mixology, following Newcastle United soccer, and collecting tiki and Hawaiiana.