Teacher's Involved
EGS teachers Fernando Aguila, Roxanna Maldonado, Jennifer Ogren, Trent Udlock, and Patricia Villalobos worked with local artists to lead students through a critical examination and reconstruction of the traditional game of Loteria. Students collectively created a new and uniquely youth-centered version of the Loteria game anchored on the notions of social justice, empowerment, and resistance.
Elizabeth Cortez
Dean of Students at Ernest Righetti High School
Elizabeth Cortez is an educator, community advocate, and long-time Santa Maria resident. She has taught middle and high school students for over twelve years, including in the greater Los Angeles area. Elizabeth is a founding member of the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Ethnic & Gender Studies Committee and an advocate for an Ethnic Studies graduation requirement. She has a Bachelor's degree in Chicana/o Studies and Sociology, and a Master of Education from UCLA.
Fernando Aguila
Mexican American Literature Teacher at Santa Maria High School
"My name is Fernando Aguila, I am an English Teacher at Santa Maria High School. I am a proud alumnus of Santa Maria High School and born and raised in Santa Maria, California. I am proud to be able help the future generations of my hometown be able accomplish their dreams. I am currently teaching Mexican American Literature and ELD for newcomers. Being an alumnus of Santa Maria High School has given me the opportunity to help the students here and hopefully serve as an inspiration to the community that someone like them who came from immigrant farm worker parents and first-generation high school and college student can make their dreams a reality. I hope to continue the Loteria Project for future generations to come and hope to spread awareness to the great causes the students feel passionate about through the creative process."
Roxanna Maldonado
Cine y Teatro Teacher at Pioneer Valley High School
"I have been in the classroom for 30 years as an educator. Students in my Spanish classes have achieved national recognition from the College Board for their level of excellence in the language. I advocate relentlessly on behalf of the academic success of all students, believing that all children deserve the chance to receive a quality education that will prepare them for a successful future. Through my extensive experience within the public school system, I have dedicated myself to designing and carrying out student-focused educational curricula and programs, guided by careful, deliberate decision-making. I am always growing in my career, and look forward to researching further opportunities to implement student-centered educational programs."
Jennifer Ogren
Mexican American Literature Teacher at Pioneer Valley High School
Trent Udlock
Mexican American Literature Teacher at Santa Maria High School
"My name is Trent Udlock. I have been teaching at Santa Maria High School for 9 years. I was born and raised in Anaheim, California. As a kid, I loved sports, reading, and anything outdoors. After graduating from CSU Long Beach, I began to travel a lot. I went all over North America and eventually settled in Lake Tahoe, where I met my wife. We moved to Arroyo Grande with our twin daughters to be near her family. Currently, I love to fish and surf, and I spend as much time as I can in the water. My wife and I love to travel and enjoy new experiences. I love my job and my students. We also look forward to summer so we can pursue other passions."
Patricia Villalobos
Identity & Culture for Spanish Speakers Teacher at Ernest Righetti High School
"My name is Patricia Villalobos, I am a Spanish and Ethnic Studies educator. As a child, I enjoyed demonstrating to my younger siblings what I knew through the game of “school.” I loved the feeling of teaching and helping others learn new things. This game emulated the safe space I found in school when I immigrated to the United States at the age of seven. I independently adapted to a lot of new experiences and navigated this challenging school system. My parents had to work hard to provide for us and it was up to me to complete my assignments, be responsible and make them proud. I turned to my teachers and bilingual aides for support and guidance as I mastered English and became familiar with the school system. Quickly school felt like my safe place, and I excelled in my studies. I appreciated my teachers and the difference they made in their students’ lives. I was inspired in the ways they worked with their students and instilled knowledge through their lessons. As roles models, I saw myself serving the community as they did. I knew that becoming a teacher was no longer a game but a career goal, but my ambitions were not without obstacles. When I reached out to my counselors to devise a plan to attend college, I was discouraged from taking college prep classes due to my English learner identification. I realized that I would need to persist and find other advocates to open doors of opportunity to overcome the systemic challenges in the educational system. Upon graduating high school, I was accepted to attend UC, Santa Barbara, and I became the first in my family to graduate college with honors. I earned a bachelor’s in Spanish & sociology, a master's in education and a single subject teaching credential. By then I understood that education could be a catalyst for change even for the disadvantaged like me and I wanted to share those experiences with students. Since graduating college I’ve been very passionate about implementing curriculum that reflects my students' culture and ethnicity. This has led me to develop and teach an Ethnic & Gender Studies course in Spanish with the support of educators across the state who are doing similar work. It has become my intention to support other teachers seeking to implement culturally responsive curriculum. For that reason, I have co-presented workshops at the Association of Raza Educators (A.R.E.) Thirteenth Annual Statewide Conference, Cal Poly’s Social Justice Education Conference, and the Allan Hancock College Equity Summit. I currently serve as Department Chair for the International Language Department, and I advise the Latinos Unidos Club at Ernest Righetti High School. In June of 2023, I will complete my twentieth year serving our communities through education.
