Lilibeth Bravo knew she wanted to be a teacher when she was in the sixth grade.

“I was inspired by my sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. Carrie Jones,” said Bravo, who will teach Dual Language History, as well as Spanish, for grades 6-8 this year at Denair Middle School. “She helped all of the students; she included everyone and cared for everyone. Most of all, she always motivated us, and she made us feel like we could accomplish things. She really inspired me. I knew that I wanted to be an example for others.

Bravo, like so many first-time teachers, is excited and nervous about the first day of school.

“I can’t wait to meet students and families,” said Bravo, who was born and raised in Modesto and now resides in Turlock. “I’m excited not just to teach them, but to learn from them, too. I think it’s important to learn from students and families. We can’t teach them if we don’t know what they value or what their culture is.”

Here are some other things to know about Lilibeth Bravo.

Family members: I have a 6-year-old son and my life partner who always fill me with love and support.

Educational background: I went to Thomas Downey High School, and I graduated from Modesto Junior College and Stanislaus State with a degree in liberal studies. I am currently enrolled at San Jose State University, pursuing a master’s in instructional technology.

Subject/grades taught at Denair: I will be teaching Dual Language History and Spanish.

What attracted you to Denair? What attracted me to Denair was its community-focused environment and its support for bilingual education. I like that it is a district where teachers can build meaningful relationships with both students and their families.

What most inspires you about teaching? Helping students learn and grow. I want students to feel safe and supported. My goal is to help students see that they are capable of learning by helping them build their confidence and valuing their strengths.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? I look forward to tackling challenges that come with being a new teacher. I am looking forward to learning, growing, and becoming the best educator I can be for my students.

What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? A favorite teaching activity of mine is hands-on learning. Hands-on activities give students the opportunity to explore the lesson while staying actively engaged.

What do you want your students to remember? I want students to remember they are important and able to achieve anything they set their minds to. I want them to remember that they will always have my support; and they will always have a classroom where they feel safe, valued, and loved – a place where both their strengths and weaknesses matter.

What can parents do to support you? Parents can support me by reaching out at any time to share any concerns or ideas they may have. They can also encourage their child to do their best and support classroom expectations. I believe working together can help the students be successful.

What’s something that would surprise people about your job? I think people would be surprised that even though lessons are planned, teachers often have to make quick adjustments in the moment to meet their students’ needs.

What do you do for fun? I love spending time with my family. I enjoy having ice cream and playing board games. I also enjoy exercising, running, shopping, and buying plants.

One interesting, little-known fact about me is … I collect Mini Brands Plants.

Brooke Davis is returning to where it all began for her.

Davis attended Denair schools from kindergarten through 12^th grade, graduating in 2014. Now, she’ll be a Special Education Inclusion teacher at Denair Elementary Charter Academy.

“I never really thought too much about my time in Denair while I was there,” said Davis. “All I could think about was moving on in life. But the older you get, you start to think, ‘You know what? That was a special part of my life.’ You begin to understand how big a role teachers play in your life. To be able to return to the community that gave so much to me is very special.”

After graduating from DHS, Davis attended Stanislaus State, shifting her major multiple times.

“I really don’t know how I became a teacher,” she joked. “I had always been a babysitter, and from babysitting I started working in an after-school program. Then I started working as a paraeducator, then I started substitute teaching. I ended up falling in love working with autistic children.”

Here are some other things to know about Brooke Davis.

Family members: Husband Austin Davis (husband), 3-year-old daughter Laramie, and son Cohen, who will soon celebrate his first birthday. 

Educational background: Denair High School, CSU Stanislaus (where I received my BA in Psychology), and Teachers College of San Joaquin (where I received my mild/moderate and extensive-support needs credentials).

Previous teaching jobs: Paraprofessional at Turlock Unified School District for two years in a pre-formal autism classroom. Being a paraprofessional inspired me to become a teacher, and that is what I did next. For the last five years I was a Special Day Classroom autism teacher at TUSD.

Subject/grades taught at Denair: I will be the newest hourly Special Education Inclusion teacher.

What attracted you to Denair? Since I started teaching, I have always talked about coming back to Denair, where I grew up. Ultimately, my goal was to come back and give my all to the community that gave me the foundation that has made me the educator I am today.

What most inspires you about teaching? Helping young minds grow, build confidence, and being all that they can be … and more.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? I am super excited to help all the students feel welcomed, supported, confident, and to reach for the stars.

What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? I like starting the year with “All About Me” collages for my students. It is always a great time to learn about each student and what they love. As for a teaching tool, Classroomscreen is one I have come to love. It helps keep every activity organized throughout the day, as well as keep the students prepared for expectations in the activity. It’s like my own assistant, and students love all the visuals and activities. It helps make everyone in the room feel confident in what they are currently learning.

What do you want your students to remember? That I was someone who gave them the confidence to be able accomplish their goals.

What can parents do to support you? Collaborate and communicate with their child’s teacher/team.

What is something that would surprise people about your job? Being an inclusion

specialist is a job that blends many different skills: teaching, collaboration, problem solving, advocacy, and relationship building.

What do you do for fun? Bake! I enjoy baking sourdough, cookies, and having homemade pizza nights with my husband and kids. It has been extremely fun to share my love of baking with my kids. They truly are enjoying the messes and yummy treats.

A little-known fact about me is … I have swum with dolphins two times.

First-year Denair High School teacher Daytona Jones has a sister named Atlanta and brother named Dylan.

Their parents settled on Jones’ name after a commercial promoting the Daytona 500 NASCAR race appeared on the TV in the labor and delivery room. Her sister was named for their mom’s favorite football team – the Atlanta Falcons – and her brother was named after Dylan McKay, the fictional character played by the late Luke Perry on “Beverly Hills 90210.”

“My parents are fans of sports and pop culture,” said Jones, who will teach mild to moderate special education for grades 9-12.

Jones said she’s excited about the start of the 2026-27 school year, but also a bit anxious.

“I’m incredibly nervous,” said Jones, a 2016 graduate of Turlock High School. “I was lucky enough to be a sub in the class that I ended up taking over, so I know the kids and they’re also so amazing. That relieves my anxiety, but I’m still nervous because I hope to do well and don’t want to disappoint anybody.”

Here are few other things to know about Daytona Jones:

Family members: I have a close-knit family that has always encouraged my love for education.

Educational background: I went to Turlock High School, then received my BA in History at CSU Stanislaus, and am now attending Teacher’s College of San Joaquin to receive my teaching credential.

Previous teaching jobs: This is my first year teaching. However, I did substitute for two years.

Subject/grades taught at Denair: High school mild-moderate Special Education (9-12).

What attracted you to Denair? I had the honor of substituting for multiple classes at DHS and fell in love with the school! The community is so inspiring, and everyone makes you feel like you are a part of something bigger than yourself.

What most inspires you about teaching? The students. Seeing students grow in confidence and realizing they are capable of more than they thought possible. I love helping students discover their strengths and celebrating their progress.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? As a first-year teacher, I am excited to continue learning and growing while building a classroom where every student feels supported, challenged and successful.

What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? I enjoy using interactive activities, collaborative learning, and graphic organizers to make learning engaging and accessible for all students. 

What do you want your students to remember? I want my students to remember they are valued and supported in my classroom. I want them to know they are capable of achieving great things.

What can parents do to support you? Communication is key! When families and teachers work together, we can best support students.

What’s something that would surprise people about your job? Special Education teachers wear many hats. We teach, collaborate with parents and staff, adapt lessons, support student goals, and celebrate growth every step of the way.

What do you do for fun? I love to read! You will always catch me with a book in my hands in my free time.

A little-known fact about me is … My love for reading began when I was a child with the Magic Treehouse books. Any chance I get to introduce a student to the series, I take it, and hope it also sparks a love for reading.

Ramina Isaac immigrated to the U.S. from Iran when she was just a teenager.

“It was very difficult,” said Isaac, who was born Tehran, the Iranian capital. “It was definitely a culture shock.”

She settled with her family in Chicago – hardly knowing a single word of English – and moved to the Central Valley just in time to start eighth grade at Somerset Middle School in Modesto.

“Six months later, I was a semifinalist in a speech competition,” said Isaac, who will teach eighth-grade math and Math 1 at DUSD during the 2026-27 school year. 

Isaac believes her immigrant story gives her a unique foundation to assist Denair Unified School District’s diverse student body.

Here are a few other things you might not know about Isaac.

Family members: Husband Lenard Isaac, children Danielle, Andrew, and Matthew, dog Milo and cat Whiskey.

Educational background: A bachelor’s degree in marketing – with a minor in computer information systems – and a master’s degree in secondary education from California State University, Stanislaus.

Previous teaching jobs: Six years at Dos Palos High School, two years at Whitmore Charter Middle School, two years at Salida Middle School, five years at Aspire Vanguard College Preparatory.

What attracted you to Denair? The opportunity to make a difference in student lives. Also,

I live in Turlock, so Denair is close to my home. My brother-in-law was a groundskeeper a long time ago at DUSD. He passed away about 20 years ago; I am honored to walk in his footsteps.

What most inspires you about teaching? The opportunity to make a lasting impact on someone’s life. Helping people understand a difficult concept, build confidence in their abilities, and discover their potential is incredibly rewarding. I enjoy creating an environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and continue learning. Knowing that even a small lesson or moment of encouragement can influence someone’s future is what makes teaching so meaningful to me.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year?  Finding new ways to engage every student and meet them where they are academically and personally. Every class is unique, and I enjoy adapting my teaching strategies to help students stay motivated, build confidence, and reach their full potential. I also look forward to continuing to grow as an educator by learning new instructional techniques and creating a classroom environment where every student feels supported, challenged, and excited to learn. 

What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? Student-to-student collaboration. It takes the weight off of me by having the students work on the math problems at hand through collaboration.

What do you want your students to remember? More than any single lesson, I want my students to remember how they felt in my classroom. I want them to remember that they were respected, encouraged, and capable of achieving more than they thought possible. I hope they leave with confidence in themselves, a curiosity to keep learning, and the understanding that mistakes are a natural part of growth. If my students remember that they had a teacher who believed in them and inspired them to do their best, I will consider that a success.

What can parents do to support you? Maintain open communication and partner with me in their child’s education. Encouraging consistent attendance, reinforcing the importance of completing assignments, and showing interest in what their child is learning can make a significant difference. I also appreciate when parents share any concerns or important information early so we can work together to help their child succeed. When teachers and families collaborate, students are more confident, engaged, and successful.

What’s something that would surprise people about your job? I think many people would be surprised by how much happens outside the classroom. Teaching involves much more than delivering lessons; it includes planning engaging activities, grading assignments, communicating with families, analyzing student progress, and continually adapting instruction to meet the needs of every learner. It’s a job that requires creativity, patience, flexibility, and a genuine commitment to helping students succeed both academically and personally.

What do you do for fun? Latin and country line dancing. I teach adults how to dance, as well.

A little-known fact about me is … I am fluent in three languages, one of which is a 6,700-year-old language known as Aramaic.