Family: My mom, Shelley Francesconi; my dad, Bruce Ochoa; my brother, Cory Ochoa; and my two nephews, Dean and Alex.
School: Denair Elementary Charter Academy
Subject taught: Second grade
Experience and education: I received my AA degree from Merced College in arts and humanities, my bachelor’s degree from Stan State in English and my teaching credential from Humphreys University. I have worked as a substitute teacher for seven years and I was a student teacher last year at DECA.
What attracted you to Denair? My mom, Shelley Francesconi, worked at DECA for 17 years as an attendance secretary before retiring in 2021. When I began working as a substitute teacher at DECA, I loved the community, and how helpful and kind everyone was.
What most inspires you about teaching? What inspires me most about teaching is getting to make a positive impact on my students’ lives. I look forward to helping my students discover their strengths and reach their full potential.
What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? This year I look forward to having my own classroom. As a substitute teacher, I visited many different classrooms, so this year I’m excited to take on the responsibility of managing my own classroom and the challenges that come with that.
What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? Think-Pair-Shares. I love giving my students time to discuss with their peers to help develop their ideas.
What do you want your students to remember? I want my students to remember the fun they had while learning. I hope I am able to help my students foster a love of learning in the classroom, so they look forward to coming to school.
How can parents support what you do? The best way parents can support me is by reaching out with any questions or concerns so we can work together toward the common goal of a successful school year!
What would surprise people about your job? With so many different personalities in the classroom, no two days are exactly the same.
What do you do for fun? In my free time, I like to go to the gym and stay active. For fun, I like to play video games, watch TV and read books.
