Marisa grew up in Steilacoom, Washington and moved to Bellingham in 2017 to pursue her education at Western Washington University, from which she received a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Social Science. She studied Cultural Anthropology, focusing on understanding and valuing the diversity of people, and later added a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies to emphasize her interest in women’s roles in societies throughout history. She ended her degree with a capstone in birth and child rearing practices to further tie together her major, minor, and interest in public health.
While she thoroughly enjoyed her time in Anthropology, Marisa knew she wanted to continue her education and follow her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. After months of working from home when the pandemic first hit, she decided it was finally time to go back to school, this time for a Master of Secondary Education in Social Studies and History. Although Marisa keeps herself pretty busy with graduate school, she still finds time to indulge in her hobbies, which include gardening, crocheting, and doing puzzles with her fiancée. Marisa has a big family and often spends weekends visiting with one or more of her six sisters, and nieces and nephews.
Marisa is currently a senior, teaching candidate and will be completing her student teaching here, at Explorations Academy. She hopes to complete her degree and licensure by late winter and continue working locally in education. Her number one goal in working with students is to create an environment where students feel safe and supported to push the boundaries of what they believe is possible for themselves. She wishes to inspire creative, critical thinking, while maintaining high expectations and learning standards. Marisa is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the small group of learners at Explorations Academy and looks forward to building relationships with each student and their family.