President

Gabriel Mendoza Jr. (he/him/él) is a proud first-generation Chicano, transfronterizo, graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and student at Southwestern Community College. He currently serves as the 2026-2027 President of CTA Aspiring Educators (CTA-AE) after serving a previous term as President and two terms as a CTA State Council Representative. An aspiring bilingual preschool teacher and son of an immigrant educator, Gabriel is committed to the organizing power of aspiring educators, strengthening member engagement, and ensuring every future educator in California feels seen, supported, and empowered to fight for racial, social, and educational justice in our schools and communities.

Vice President

Dahlia Schilling (she/her/ella) is a second-year Liberal Studies major with an emphasis in Elementary Education at San Diego State University. She serves as the 2026–2027 Vice President of the CTA-AE Board and previously served as Secretary-Treasurer. As Vice President, Dahlia hopes to foster a strong sense of community within CTA-AE and help aspiring educators build their collective voice.

Secretary-Treasurer

Daniella (Dani) Averill (she/they/ella) is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, pursuing a simultaneous degree in Mathematics and Educational Sciences. This is their second year serving on the board and first year in the Secretary-Treasurer position. As an aspiring K-12 math educator, Dani is deeply committed to advocating for equity and justice in education at every level. This year she hopes to continue contributing to expanding CTA-AE’s community through fostering an active and supportive network for all aspiring educators.

Region 1 Director

Luis Tovar (he/him/él) is a third-year student at the University of California, Berkeley, pursuing his B.A. in History. He has been serving with his local CTA chapter since 2024, and with the Napa County Office of Education since 2022. His goal for this year is to empower the membership experience.

Region 2 Director

Giselle Reyes (Ella/She/Her) is a first-gen Chicana transfer student from community college now at UCD majoring in Political Science with a minor in Education. As region 4 director she mobilized SoCal aspiring educators with unique governing systems to unionize with CTA-AE and actively build relationships with TK-12 union site leaders/higher education faculty to share strategies as advocates in our profession and unite in statewide campaigns. Now as the region 2 director she is looking to facilitate the growth of students and platform members stories about the issues affecting their campus. She looks forward to continue amplifying student voices as she remains committed to guiding allies, connecting students to coalitions in year-round organizing, and being proactive about implementing changes that prioritize our students, teachers, and communities ability to thrive longterm.

Region 3 Director

Jenn Boulagjame (she/her) is a UCLA student majoring in Gender Studies and Labor Studies and serves as Treasurer of UCLA’s founding CTA-AE chapter and CTA-AE Region 3 Director. A community college transfer student and parent of six children, she is committed to educational equity, community care, and creating spaces where Aspiring Educators feel supported and connected. She enjoys reading and practicing yoga in her free time.

Region 4 Director

Kimberly Pena (she/her/ella) is a second-year student at Santa Ana College, completing prerequisites to become a radiation therapist. She is the new Regional Director for Region 4 of the 2026-27 CTA-AE Board. As a new member, her aim is to participate in a community of aspiring educators committed to change and to advocate against major barriers in education, leading with empathy.

REAC Director

Vanessa Terry (she/her) is currently working on her teaching credential in secondary education for Theatre Arts. She holds multiple degrees, with the most recent being in Social Justice. As a REAC Director, Vanessa will advocate for diverse, equitable, anti-racist spaces in our communities and will continue to learn, grow, and act to amplify the voices of those too often silenced.

REAC Director

Elias Antunez (he/him) is a UC Berkeley graduate, and continues education through ELAC in pursuit of an AA in Early Childhood Development. He is a returning member of the Racial Equity Affairs Committee of the CTA-AE Board in Region 3. After his first year serving the CTA-AE Board, he has gained a deeper perspective and experience in how to navigate the many resources of the CTA, and will dedicate his knowledge and passion to bring more light and encouragement opportunities for diverse members to share their experiences and advice with other educators looking to make an impact in their fields.

REAC Director

Rubi Escobar Pittsey (she/her) is an Early Childhood Education student at Santa Ana College, currently in her senior year. She is one of the REAC Directors for the CTA-AE Statewide Board. Rubi is currently gaining hands-on experience in the field of education as a preschool student assistant, where she continues to learn and support children’s growth and development. She is passionate about creating inclusive and equitable learning environments that celebrate diversity and support the experiences of all students. She believes that representation matters and hopes to inspire others by showing that with the right support, resources, and determination, anything is possible. She aspires to become an elementary school teacher, where she can continue advocating for children and communities while supporting and encouraging aspiring educators to use their voices and create meaningful change in the field of education.

REAC Director

Hi everyone! My name is Leslie Ramirez and I am delighted to be one of the incoming REAC directors! I cannot wait to collaborate with my fellow peers in order to uplift our communities and do work that truly makes a change. I look forward to learning a lot from my fellow board members and from every project we work on this year. I recently graduated from Santa Ana College with my AA in liberal arts and I will be transferring to UCLA in the fall to hopefully double major in English and in Education. I have worked with the SAC branch of CTA-AE to advocate for the communities affected by the current political climate and it’s something I hope to continue to do with the current REAC team. I look forward to working with them all in order to ensure that our schools and communities are safe. I hope to take full advantage of this opportunity to learn how I can better serve as an advocate. I hope you all have a great summer and I look forward to our year together!

State Council Representative

Natalie K Villalobos (she/her/ella) is a fourth-year undergraduate student at UC Berkeley studying Sociology and Education Sciences. She is one of the 2026-2027 State Council Representatives of the CTA-AE Board. Her goal is to advocate and share the voices for those who have been underrepresented in the education system. She is excited to serve her community and work with the CTA – Aspiring Educators to raise the voices for those who go unheard!

State Council Representative

Daniel Smothers is a third-year EECS major and CalTeach minor at UC Berkeley, originally from Fresno. He is passionate about expanding STEM education, strengthening CTE pathways, and advocating for educational opportunity in the Central Valley. Daniel is entering his second term as a CTA-AE State Council Representative, where he works to elevate the voices of Aspiring Educators within CTA’s statewide advocacy. Through his connection to the Fresno Teachers Association and his commitment to union work, Daniel hopes to help build stronger connections between aspiring educators, local chapters, and the fight for equitable public education.

State Council Representative

Madison Saldana (she/her/ella) is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is pursuing an Education Sciences Major with the aim of becoming an Education Lawyer.

After being a part of the 2025 CTA-AE Spring Event, she realized how special CTA-AE is by having a space of transformative individuals with a dream of making public schools a safe and equitable space.

After being a State Council representative for the 2025-2026 term, Madison Saldana is honored to be your State Council Representative for another term as we continue CTA goals of fully funded schools, equitable resources, and a supportive environment for aspiring teachers.

Outside of the AE space, Madison loves reading and a good coffee. She also loves the Hunger Games series and watching Abbott Elementary.

CCTC Liaison

Hi, my name is Alizé Ruiz (She/Her), and I just earned my bachelor’s in Liberal Studies with a minor in Special Education. I will be starting my credential program at Chico State this upcoming school year in Special Education and Multiple Subject. I am excited to be the CCTC Liaison for the 2026-2027 academic year!

Communications Editor

Hi everyone! My name is Noura Hussein and I am a psychology major at Santa Ana college on the pre-law track. I am driven to help others, continuously learn, and develop skills that create an impact on my community. I am an upcoming communication Editor as I have a passion for social media and using it to bring people together while spreading awareness about important issues.

Communications Editor

My name is Rosa Pasaye, and I am a first-generation college student. I am currently majoring in Early Childhood Education at Santa Ana College. I truly find education to be the field of my calling and wish to express that. I just feel joy at the idea of being able to help the minds of our future generations grow and develop. As part of the CTA-AE board, I want to help show how truly amazing education can be in its every aspect. But, I am also looking forward to help recruit new members and show them the beauty of this field. Last but not least, I also want to make people aware of the events going on around the world. I look forward to working on the statewide board.

Past Officer

Sofia Judith Reynoso Sandoval graduated from UC Berkeley in 2026 with a B.A. in Spanish Linguistics and Bilingualism and a Minor in Education. She is a first-generation student from Grover Beach, California, and a proud immigrant from Zacatecas, Mexico. She has previously served on the CTA-AE Board as a State Council Representative under the Language Acquisition Committee, and as Vice President in the 2025-2026 year. She is currently working on obtaining her Master’s and Multiple Subject Credential at Stanford University’s Teacher Education Program. As a former English Language Learner student, Sofia is deeply passionate about bilingual education and is also pursuing her California Spanish Bilingual Authorization.