Who Are We? by Karen Sarafian https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y Let's get to know our learning community! en-us 2023-07-24 18:58:48 UTC 2025-10-07 15:46:18 UTC hello@padlet.com Instructions k_sarafian https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2650371892 An important part of our work together is understanding who we are, how we are likely to engage, and what we need from each other to learn and grow.  We encourage each community member to be as open and share to the extent comfortable.  

Please start a post with your name, pronouns, and a short response to each question listed.  For information on how to use a padlet, please see the short video linked in the first Canvas Module.
  • Where do you live?
  • Who are the important people in your life?
  • What are some important dates and observances?
  • When/where/with whom/under what circumstances do you feel most at ease?
  • What are some life/work/educational/other goals?
  • What is the most boring/interesting/fun/surprising fact about you?
  • What's one thing you would like most from this community of learners?
  • What's one thing you are most likely to contribute to this community of learners?
  • What else would you like us all to know about you?
]]> 2023-07-24 19:09:30 UTC https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2650371892 Hi! I'm Karen (she/her/hers) k_sarafian https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2650385055 Hi!  I can't wait to meet and work WITH this community!  A little about me...I live in Elk Grove, near Sacramento.  My son is off at Duke and daughter and family are about a 5-minute bike ride away.  They're my everything!  As for important dates, I celebrate family birthdays and Christian holidays and always value learning about the many customs, traditions and observances of the unique individuals I know!

I feel most at ease with family and others I know really well and tend to be a bit reserved when meeting new people in large groups.  That said, meeting new people in small groups, and feeling valued for what I say/do, is where I like to be.

As for goals, I keep on striving--despite my children telling me I could retire to babysit the grand babies!  I'm all about continuous improvement.  That applies to this program, personal health, and the non-profit work I do (my son and I started a small NGO a few years back).

As for me and surprising/fun/interesting/boring, I think I'll go with surprising--which will become boring as you get to know me and I keep blabbing about it--I love ice cream and popcorn and eat them both every night.

Finally, from this community of learners, I really want open communication--the good/bad/ugly (if any). In terms of my contributions, I'll give you all my all--I'm here to support ongoing learning, growth, and change!]]> 2023-07-24 19:56:18 UTC https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2650385055 Start here if you'd like a brief tutorial on how to use Padlet... https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2650403348 2023-07-24 21:05:30 UTC https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2650403348 Karen's contribution to the cohort playlist... k_sarafian https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2674317982 2023-08-27 22:14:09 UTC https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2674317982 Jessica (she/her/hers) https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2677105216 I currently reside in Sacramento on the southeast side since January 2023. My family, including my father, mother, oldest sister, older sister and her husband, and their bundle of joy – their daughter – as well as my brother and his wife, lives in the Bay Area.

My family, friends, school colleagues, and my work colleagues are important people in my life. During the day, I get to spend quality time to work with my peers for our graduate studies, and self care outside of work. During the weekends, I can spend time with my family and friends. As for important dates, my family and friends' birthdays are significant to me. I love creating art gifts that bring light into their lives. We also celebrate Easter and Christmas.

The cherished times often involve small groups, whether that’s bible studies or hanging out with a few friends for coffee. I believe that getting to know someone with fewer distractions helps them feel valued and seen.

I strive to be intentional about taking care of my mental health first and foremost before juggling daily activities. Recently, I started practicing boundaries focusing on emotional health and physical well-being. I’m still figuring out my emotional health boundaries because I've discovered that it's responsible for me to think before reacting to a situation. I believe that the more I practice self-awareness, the easier it is for me to manage my emotions.

I can sing opera, and I am a soprano in the choir. I can do an impression of the Mickey Mouse clubhouse voice. I am a lettering artist, a music enthusiast, and I love trying new food recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I am looking forward to experiencing this program with everyone. I believe that every challenge we face together is an opportunity to grow and learn about ourselves and each other. One thing I would like to contribute to the community is listening.
]]> 2023-08-29 18:22:48 UTC https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2677105216 Jacqueline De La Paz ( she/her/ella) https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2677386953 Hello Hello! I live in Stockton California but sometimes it feels like I live at Pacific. The most important people in my life is my beautiful family, my husband Martin of 15 years, my daughter Alexia, sons Martin and Matthew and our dog Maui. Our parents also play a big and important role in our lives. 

Important dates and observances for me include Easter, Christmas, and birthdays! I love making a big fuss for my kids on their birthdays, another year of life is a truly a blessing! And although there is no "official titles" Sundays are days that I truly value. Sundays mean family time,
 walks and lounging! 

I feel most at east at home with my family or small circle of friends, although I am a social person I love being home in my space. 

Goals for me are to continue to grow into my truth. My goal is to be a great motivator and role model to my family and students. I have the big but scary dream to be a Dr. in my field. My goal is to also let go of worries and fears of the future. 

The most boring thing about me is that I love being a home body. The most surprising thing about me is that I love fashion, although I tend to live in yoga pants lol. I am also the first one in my family to finish High School, attend and graduate college and now pursue a masters degree. 

One thing I would like the most from this community is to learn from them. Everyone comes from different back grounds and I hope we challenge each other to learn. 

I look forward to contributing the knowledge I have picked up from working with students in higher ed  for the past 2 years. As well as my role as a mother, looking at educational programs through the those lenses is something that can bring value I believe. 

And lastly something I would like you to know about me is that I am always willing to learn and grow, I believe we all want something different from this program but collectively as the first cohort we can make it work for all of us! ]]> 2023-08-30 00:28:33 UTC https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2677386953 Destiny Caster (she/her/hers) https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2682096422 Hello! I currently live in Oakland, CA, but I also frequently go to Stockton, mainly Pacific since my partner lives on campus. There is a long list of people who I consider the most important in my life, but I would say that my partner Yna is the most important. My mentor, my great aunt, mom, and my brothers are also important to me. 

Some important dates for me are my partner's birthday (6/28), my family's birthdays, and my anniversary with my partner (3/25). I value the dates with my partner because weI used to be long distanced and we were only able to see each other occasionally as we would switch between SoCal and NorCal for school and home. I love celebrating her birthday and our anniversary because they both mark new milestones in our lives and we take those days to reflect and remember the past year and to have fun. 

I feel at ease when I'm around my partner and friends. We don't spend a lot of time together since we are all so busy with life, but when we do see each other it's really enjoyable and it makes me feel better. I feel most at when it's just my partner and me. I'm definitely an introvert, so after spending time around people I need to recharge my social battery. 

My goals are ever-growing and ever-changing. I want to be a Dr. because I want to get every educational degree I can. Pursuing a bachelors and masters alone is something that has never happened in my family so I want to get every degree I can to show that it's possible to my brothers and cousins. I love learning and I love challenging myself. Education is one of those things that will never really leave my life because I want to keep learning and contributing to our community. Another goal I have is to buy a home with my partner after we get married. I want to have a garden and ducks so we can become sustainable and produce less waste. As for work goals... I have no idea. I have no clue what I want to do or what I want to be. I want to experience as much as I can before I settle for a career path.

The most boring fact about me is that I love being at home and enjoying my day. I could fill it with anything, but I love being a homebody and enjoying time to myself. I will try new recipes, read a book that's been on my "to read" list, garden, or play games with my partner. We love collecting games and playing them. We have a lot of card games and board games and love playing a game to relax. 

I'm looking forward to learning from this community and to contribute bits of my own experience/knowledge to this community. It's a new experience for all of us in this community and I'm excited to work with everyone!


]]> 2023-09-03 01:55:32 UTC https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2682096422 Flor Perez (she/her/hers) f_perez9 https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2682334197 I currently live in Santa Clara with my husband and 18-month-old daughter.

The most important people in my life are my daughter, Evelyn, and my husband, Esteban. I also have my parents who live in Newark, my sister and her husband in New Orleans, my close friends, Veronica and Sara.

Some important dates that are valuable too me are my birthday, my daughter's and husbands birthday, our anniversary, Christmas, and New Years Day.

A few life goals I have for me are completing my masters degree program and continuing to teach middle school math for as long as I can. Maybe later down the road I would like to work in the Santa Clara Office of Education as a math specialist and work with other teachers and colleagues. I love to contribute to my math community in the South Bay with non-profit organizations such as SVEF, AFL and CoP from SCCOE. My other life goal would be to have another child God-willing, travel with my family and enjoy my time with them. I want to continue learning, maybe include another masters' or perhaps a doctoral program. I am very passionate abut education.

Some facts about me is that I like to do calming activities such as walking, reading, yoga, prayer, doing my nails, writing, cleaning, gardening, baking and binge-watching streaming. These activities help me to relax and ground me, especially when I struggle with anxiety and worries. I've also been called a social butterfly because I love to see and hang out with close friends and meeting new people.

One thing I would like most from this community of learners are words of encouragement and a sense of unity to help each other out whenever we can. One thing I would contribute to this community is to also help encourage and be supportive of one another. I love to share my teaching experiences and use it to tie in to what we are learning.

Lastly, I am a very happy and cheerful person. I love encouraging, uplifting and am a great listener. I also love to learn and will continue to do so for as long as I can.



]]> 2023-09-03 14:17:27 UTC https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2682334197 Yusif Imanov (he/him/his) https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2682649004 Hey there, I'm Yusif, and for now I call Stockton my home, where I live with my partner and 2 cats. My life is enriched by the presence of my amazing family – they're the ones who truly matter to me. I hold a special place in my heart for the birthdays of my loved ones, as those are the moments we come together to celebrate.

For me, the boxing gym is a safe place where I feel most at ease. The familiar sights, sounds, and energy of the gym are where I find my zone. Speaking of goals, I'm all about finding happiness and purpose in life. In my work, I strive to guide students and individuals towards self-realization, and my educational path includes earning a PhD so I can share knowledge and inspire others.

Now, here's a fun fact: I'm actually a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which brings excitement and challenge into my life. Beyond the gym, I find interest in hiking and running, connecting with nature as I move forward.

From this community of learners, I'm looking for compassion and love – a supportive environment where we can all grow together. As for my contribution, expect passion, excitement, and a unique perspective that I'm eager to share.

I'm open to connecting with all of you on various topics, sharing experiences, and learning from each other. Let's make this journey one of the best in understanding and collaboration.]]> 2023-09-04 01:06:34 UTC https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2682649004 a_diaz29 https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2683855306 Hello! 
My name is Amanda and I go by she/her. I currently reside in Lodi which is just 10 minutes away from Stockton. The most important people in my life are my main ones- my husband Luis, my daughter Isabel (6) and my son Lucas (soon to be 8!). We also just got a puppy and she is 4 months old. She is a handful! I also have my mom and my brother who currently live in Ceres which is about 45 minutes away. I miss them dearly when I don't visit. Luckily, my mom is now retired so she visits as much as she can. Her sisters, that I look up to, live in Elk Grove, and Galt. So we are all trying to convince her to move up closer with us. 
.
The most important dates to me, are pretty much my families birthday's, anniversaries, Christmas, and New Years. But if I'm being completely honest, I consider every day an important day to me. Cause we never know. It could be our last and I instill this in my life with people I love because LIFE IS SHORT. 

I feel at ease and most myself around "my people". I consider my family my people, my mom, my brother, even my cousins who are like my brothers and sisters, and my best friends as well. I have a very small circle, and I am very careful about who I let inside this circle. Anyone that I would consider toxic and a "energy vampire", I usually stay away from, or don't communicate with them much. 

I am really happy with what I do at work. I work with children ranging from Kinder all the way to 6th grade. I do intervention all day, while progress monitoring, and I am VERY organized so it makes my job easy. The paperwork (IEP's) are easy as well for me as long as I progress monitor. I am also a PBIS coordinator, and an SST coordinator. I am not alone as I am working with other staff members so it's nice to be able to share the job with another person and not take on the load by myself. I am also learning to say no. I tend to be a people pleaser so I will continue to work on that. I think within the next 5 years or so, I will go to work as a program specialist or an assistant director of special education. The laws of education fascinates me especially Special Education and when it comes to paperwork (IEP's), interventions, progress monitoring, etc, I believe I can bring so much to the table. 

The most interesting fact about me is I am hard of hearing. I keep forgetting to tell new people about this so I apologize! I am completely deaf in both ears, and I wear a device on my right ear. Unfortunately, the left ear does not work well, so I will have to have another surgery for that. I also played tennis for 10+ years, I love to workout, watch movies, and I LOVE FOOD. Which is why I workout daily LOL

I am really excited to be a part of this group. I hope I can learn to put my wall down and get to know you all. Some people have told me that I tend be intimidating at first? Not sure why! But please know, it's just me, being me, getting to know you. I look forward to getting to know you and this is a wonderful opportunity for us to grow and learn together. Thank you! ]]> 2023-09-04 23:21:42 UTC https://padlet.com/k_sarafian/70ofmw6i8ja9j59y/wish/2683855306