Staff Profiles

Hi, my name is Yakubu Aderounmu but I prefer to be called Mr. A, I teach honors chemistry at CEC to students in grades 10 ,11 and 12. I hold my degree in Chemistry from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and a Master's in Administration from Lagos State University both in Nigeria. Having taught in Nigeria for 20 years.  Upon arrival to the States I attended Cal State Bakersfield for a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction. Aside from teaching Chemistry I also coach soccer and robotics to the students at CEC. I have been in the classroom since graduating from college naturing adolescents into productive adults in the community.

Proud graduate of Cal State Long Beach, Dr. Adomou has over 20 years of teaching experience, fourteen of which was with the LAUSD where he taught several courses, including English, French, Communication, and Public Speaking. Before coming to Compton Unified in August 2018, Dr. Adomou was employed by the United Nations as Education Specialist in charge of developing education policies and programs at the international level. 

Dr. Adomou believes that true teaching occurs when students have the opportunity to be active participants in the learning process.  Thus, he uses student-centered instructional approaches and encourages his students to strive for excellence and personal growth in all their endeavors.

Despite the particularities of this school year, Dr. Adomou  is committed to ensuring the success of all his students.

My name is Robert Broome and this is my 20th year in education.  I hold a Bachelor's in Music Education and a Masters in Education/Administration and Supervision.  I spent eight years teaching in North Carolina before moving to California.  This is my 12th year in Compton and my 2nd year at Compton Early College.  I look forward to continuing our growth as a music  program from last year at both the high school and middle school levels.  I believe in empowering students to learn independently, as so much of learning music is done on one's own.   I look forward to the day we can present a concert to you in our auditorium again!

Hello, everyone. My name is Christopher Cantu. My educational journey began in Compton Unified as I attended Rosecrans, Davis, and graduated from Compton High. Afterward, I attended UCLA for six years as I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in American Literature and Culture and Master’s Degree in Education. Afterward, I came back to my home of Compton and began working with students at CECHS in 2017. This is the beginning of my fifth year teaching, and I learn more and more year after year. This year is no different in that I am excited to continue learning with CECHS scholars. I believe that all students are capable of learning whatever they set their mind to with supportive instruction, instructors, and environments.

Greetings, I am Patrice Countz, one of the newest additions to the Compton Early College family.  I have been a teacher in Compton for over twenty years. I graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA.  I received my Post Graduate Studies from National University and Concordia University.  At previous schools, I served on several committees and led many clubs such as: GATE, Debate,  Mock Trial, Robotics,, Leadership Council, Girl Scouts, VAPA, ASES Afterschool and Saturday Academy. Teaching is not just a job to me; it is my passion. I believe in the "Whole Child Concept"; therefore, I incorporate a unique style of teaching. My philosophy is that every child can learn, and it is the teacher's responsibility to reach the students where they are and provide a safe and nurturing pathway to learning style..  In my instructional setting you will observe how I implement the different learning modalities while teaching the standards and integrating technology.  It is a great pleasure to be part of this learning community!

I am Su Freedland. I was born and raised in Korea. My experience includes; 10 years of experience teaching in Korea before coming to Compton. This is my third year at CEC teaching math.  The hardest time in my life is when I moved to America. I had to raise my little children and learn to be a teacher in a new country. I started learning English, which is my least favorite subject and had to receive a teaching credential. I continue to study to improve as a math teacher in graduate school. I believe that the essential elements of learning are desire, persistence, and passion. Let me be a part of your journey to a life of learning.

This is my 27th year teaching science in High School after graduating from University of California at Riverside in 1994. I have taught every science course available after earning a B.S. Psychobiology (Neuroscience) and then my NASA Master Mentor teaching credential from Cal State Los Angeles in 1997. I believe in rigor, transparency, dedication and core values lead to success for all in education.

Hello. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I started my teaching career in 2003 at Dominguez High School and have been teaching at Early College since 2017. In my spare time, I enjoy watching classic films, chatting with friends, and exercising. 

Students are yearning to affect change in their lives while simultaneously finding their place in the world. Writing is one of the most powerful tools at their disposal; therefore, the English classroom should be a safe space for students to express, to explore, to develop, to mature their writing into voices and styles that are authentic and compelling.

Mr. Hood is an educator and certified Computer Science Teacher. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics and a Masters Degree in Occupational studies with specialty in Information Technology and Computer Sciences. He has 14 years of experience in education and has worked at Early College from the very beginning. He is certified in ECS, Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum in App Creators, Computer Science Principles (CSP) and Computer Science for Applications (CSA). Before teaching he worked in the IT industry and operated his own business.

Hi All! ni hao! 你好！I can't wait to share with you all the adventures that your child and I will have in learning Chinese and Art together. My name is Rachel Hwang, and I have been a teacher for 13 years, the past 2 years have been here in CECHS starting and building both the Chinese Mandarin Program and the Fine and Visual Arts Program. I have taught across all grade levels and hold a credential in English, Art and Mandarin, and for Elementary and Middle School as well. I believe that everyone can learn a second language and my colleagues and I work to teach students through a kinesthetic and comprehensible input strategies. Some news to celebrate -- last year 100% of my AP Studio Art students passed their portfolio exam. When I am not teaching you can catch me traveling around and engaging friends, family, and students through my videos featuring my hippie van life adventures. I look forward to building a great year with you and your children! Let's get it and Namaste!

Greetings, my name is Regis Inge. I am a 6th grade English/Social Studies/ AVID teacher. I graduated from Tuskegee University with a degree in Elementary Education. As an educator for the past 26 years, I enjoy interacting with the students. It gives me a sense of how they think and provides a look into their background (personally and academically). I also enjoy exposing the students with special field trips to various restaurants to promote proper etiquette and rewarding them for a job well done. My teaching philosophy follows the constructivist reflective model. This model suggests that I prescribe a “building on what they know” model to ensure that every learning level is addressed regardless of where they are academically. My student’s accomplishments came in the form of a 92% passing rate on the ICA state assessment. Finally, I believe a teacher’s classroom should be a walking museum of student’s work!

Mr. Inge was profiled by Honored, a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping great teachers in the classroom and to inspiring a new generation of talent to pursue teaching.

Hello parents it is my pleasure to be your child's 7th and 8th grade teacher this year. I have been blessed to work at the same location for 14 years, and to see the transition from WIllowbrook to Compton Early College. Before I started my journey in Compton Unified School District I started my teaching career in Centinela Valley Unified School District at both Leuzinger and Hawthorne High School. 

I began my own educational journey at Cal State Fullerton, but finished my undergraduate studies in the Bay Area at San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Minor in Ethnic Studies. I was able to finish my teaching credential and Master's program at the University of Phoenix while working full time at Enterprise Rent A Car. My passion is sports and I love coaching both girls and boy's basketball. 

Teaching Philosophy: To convince children that I care; that they can trust me. My students can accomplish anything they want to; and learning can be a hard thing but by the end of the day, they will walk away learning multiple skills such as sourcing, contextualization, corroboration, and close reading while studying History. 

Favorite Teaching Quote: "When someone is taught the joy of learning, it becomes a life-long process that never stops, a process that creates a logical individual. That is the challenge and joy of teaching." -Marva Collins-

Hello Parents/Guardians and Students! I am Mrs. Leon-Garcia, a new math teacher at CEC. I am excited to join the team and work with CEC students to help cultivate their problem-solving skills and inspire their love for the beauty that is mathematics. I have always loved the subject and went on to earn a math degree from UCLA which then led me down the wondrous path of teaching for the past 6 years. My goal is to not only advance mathematical concepts but also show students how useful these concepts can be in real life and how practices learned in math can help develop logic, leading to more productive analysis and better decision-making.

Dr. Frank Lozier is an immigrant and first generation American who, as a child, experienced homelessness and the foster care system.  But thanks to his great public school teachers in Oakland, CA, he also became a first generation college and grad school graduate, earning degrees from UC Berkeley, Columbia University, and UCLA.  He's honored to have served as a leader of classrooms and schools in Compton since 2000, and he believes in the power of education to ensure that persistence, not your zip code, determines your destiny.  When he's not working, Dr. Lozier enjoys running, dancing, and traveling.

Resource Specialist

I enjoy teaching and learning. I’ve had a desire to be a teacher since I was in second grade. I am a product of the Compton Unified School District, attending Dickison and McNair E..S, Willowbrook M.S. and Centennial H.S. Immediately after high school, I attended Cal State Dominguez Hills and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies. I earned my teaching credential and Master’s Degree at the University of Laverne. I have taught on many elementary and K-8 campuses during the traditional school year and during summer school.

I have taught as a classroom teacher for ten years, teaching mostly grades K-2, and 4th. For the past three to four years, I have been teaching out of the classroom setting. This gives me the opportunity to work with small groups of students to enhance their knowledge, time, and sometimes behavior. I help students maintain their grades or bring up their grades with note taking and test-taking strategies to help fully develop what is learned through grade-level content. I have also taken on another special interest and passion around the city of Compton as a coach. Although I enjoy drill team, dance, softball, and volleyball , in my eyes this is a form of learning I believe students can learn in many different elements and there is no limit.

Empowering students with 21st Century Skills is my passion.  It is my belief that in this global and digital world it is critical that our students are civically engaged, critical thinkers who are digitally literate, culturally aware, able to work collaboratively, and communicate effectively. My goal is to assist our students in strengthening these skills to ensure that they are prepared to successfully compete in college and the workforce.

Blended Learning Specialist

I grew up and  attended school in neighboring Huntington Park, California.  I received my B.A. Degree in Kinesiology from California State University Fullerton.  I have been a Physical Education teacher with Compton Unified School District  since 2005.  I am a proud Husband, Father, Coach, and  avid sports fan who enjoys helping youth develop their full athletic and academic potential.

I have been teaching in the  Compton Unified School District for 18 years (Roosevelt MS from 2002- 2019 and Compton Early College from 2019-to the present). I have a bachelor degree in  Secondary Education Mathematics, and a master's degree in Mathematics Education. I hold 3 credentials : Single Subject Credential for Math , Multiple Subjects Credential and CLAD Certificate Credential. Prior to teaching in Compton, I taught in the University of San Agustin (Philippines) as a College Instructor. I’m married and have 3 daughters. I believe that students of today are the leaders of tomorrow, so giving them the right tools to help them succeed is my concern. I came from a place where education is the top priority in order to change your future for the better. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”.

Hello! My name is Heather Morkes and I am a 4th year teacher. I attended Cal State Fullerton where I received my BA, teaching credential, and MA. I have a multiple subject credential which is why I am teaching both math and science here at CEC. This year, along with 6th grade math and science, I teach a middle school yearbook class for students in 6th-8th grade. I love to provide a classroom environment that provides students with multiple opportunities to explore and share their understanding through collaboration and hands-on activities. I fully believe that all students have the capacity to learn and should be given the opportunity to do so. My most recent accomplishment is being voted Teacher of the Year by my peers for the 2019-2020 school year! I look forward to working closely with you and your children this school year!

I have been teaching Social Studies in the CUSD for twenty years (16 years Middle School, four years CECHS) 

Education: BA American Studies (CSU Fullerton) Teaching Credential CSUF, Master’s in International Management 

Philosophy: The goal of all academic institutions and teachers is to prepare students to meet the challenges of the rapidly changing world around them so they can become productive, thoughtful, and responsible members of society

Hi my name is Mr. Perez, I received my B.S. in Kinesiology. Upon completion of my degree I become an educator. I now have over 15 years of experience working with students in diverse communities. I have been with Compton Early College for 5 years and really enjoy working with such amazing scholars. I’m proud to lead the sports program here at CEC.  We are now a part of C.I.F. which is the organization that oversees the playoffs system for student athletes in California. I believe in proving every student with an opportunity to be successful in my class.

Hello parents and guardians! It is a pleasure to be your child's science teacher!  We are going to have an amazing year! 

 I have worked with children since I was in high school that was many many years ago because it was my passion. I have 18 years in education and originally I came from elementary and all of my teaching was done in Compton Unified School District.  I got both of my BA and MA at Cal State University of Long Beach.  My key accomplishment is being part of the Compton Early College Family. I believe all children can learn given the right tools.

Saludos parents and guardians! Your scholars know me as Ms. Ponce, their Social Science teacher. I have the privilege of teaching APHUG, APUSH, and Leadership. In addition, it is an honor to advise ASB and Girls Build LA (Change Agents). I earned my B.A. in History from the University of California, Riverside, and went on to earn my M.A. in Education from Claremont Graduate University. My teaching adventure began 12 years ago at Compton High School! At CEC, my  goal is to empower lifelong learners, encourage them to question, use their voice, and serve their community.

I attended California State University Dominguez Hills where I acquired my B.A. in Liberal Studies and M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction.  I began as a substitute teacher for Compton Unified School District for three years.  Later, I went on to teach 6th grade math at View Prep Middle School in Inglewood for one year before transferring to Compton Early College High School where I am currently in my fourth year.  I believe that students learn best when they are fully immersed in an environment that is engaging and meaningful to them.  I strive to offer every student the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in a variety of meaningful ways.

Hello, my name is Alexander Rosales.  I am one of CEC’s science teachers.  I graduated from California State University, Long Beach with my degree in Zoology.  I’ve worked in education for over 5 years, and worked as a teacher for the last two.  I am also the eSports and Robotics coach on campus, respectively.  I enjoy being active in this community, and I am so elated to see so many different types of students go above and beyond when it comes to their education.  My teaching philosophy is that every student who wants to learn should be able to.  I model my classes after current teaching practices so that my students are able to experience a wide variety of learning techniques.

My name is Khalila Sailor. I am a graduate of the University of La Verne where I earned a bachelor’s of arts in Biology with a concentration in teaching as well as a master’s in Education. I have taught for 6 years in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

I have a passion for Biology and a desire to share that passion with my students. My philosophy to education is exposure. I want to expose students to new ideas and concepts through field trips and classroom activities such as the Trout in the Classroom program which allows students to raise trout from eggs and release them into a local body of water.

Hello my name is Yvonne Valero and I am a first year teacher at CECM. I have been involved in education 8+ years and have spent a significant amount of time mentoring youth (k-8th) throughout Los Angeles County. I enjoy working closely with the community and have done so as an AmeriCorps member as well as a member of various non-profit organizations who seek to strengthen communities. I have a Bachelors degree in English from California State University Fullerton and an English Single Subject Credential from California State University Long Beach. I believe that education should be used a means for social change. Education should aim to educate a generation of problem solvers that seek to identify and correct many social problems that our nation faces today. As a teacher, my role is to construct a classroom where students are involved in discussions of moral dilemmas in order for students to understand the implications of one’s actions.

I am Laura Wilcoxson.  I have been teaching in Compton Unified School District for 22 years.   This is my second year at Compton Early College High School.  I earned  my AA in Humanities, in 1990, from Riverside Community College.  In 1995, I earned my BA in History from California State University San Bernardino.  I, also, earned my Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in Cross Cultural Education, in 2003.  I truly believe in the old African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”.

My name is Araya Hiyabu (Mr. H) I am from a small/new country in East Africa called Eritrea.  I left my country at a young age during the war for independence from Ethiopia and lived as a refugee in Sudan for 5 years before I immigrated to the United States of America. I have been working as a school counselor for the last 25 years.  My philosophy of Life is: Know your identity and purpose first and follow your mission with laser focus.

Welcome Phoenix families! I am encouraged by your decision to enroll your child/ren at CEC, and as a stakeholder I know we have your support  in the work needed to help your child reach their full potential - we couldn’t do it without you!  I have been a high school counselor serving the community for 15 years, recently landing at CEC.  I received my undergraduate degree in Sociology from CSU Long Beach, and a Masters of Science in Educational Counseling from National University. I have experienced success in 100% college application submission for 7 graduating classes, and I'm looking forward to continuing that streak this year. I believe there is potential in all students, they just need help realizing their potential is where I come in : ) … ‘They don’t care what you know until they know that you care’

I was born in Romania until immigrating to California at the age of 5. After coming to the United States, I struggled to assimilate to the new culture, language, and most importantly the education system. Having to navigate through these challenges as a first-generation student is why I decided to work in education for over 8 years in various school districts and colleges/universities.

I earned a BA in Sociology from CSUDH, Go Toros! & an MA in Public Policy from CSULB, Go Beach! I also want to be the first in my family to pursue a doctoral candidacy within the next 2 years.

Outside of work I love to travel to unique destinations and go off the beaten path. I have gone zip-lining in three different countries and my favorite was zip-lining over hundreds of alligators and crocodiles.

Throughout these experiences and many more I have realized that we (every person) have more in common than we have in differences. Therefore, that is the counseling approach I take whenever I am interacting with a new student and family. Let’s work together to accomplish all of your academic and career goals!

Welcome to our open house today September 3rd, I have the honor and pleasure of working at this excellent school. I have been working in education for over 20 years. This is my fourth year at Early College. I earned my counseling and teaching credentials from Long Beach State. I earned my master’s degree in education from UCLA. I believe all students can learn.

Hello, 

My name is Nancy Bravo, I’ve enjoyed working for Compton Unified since 2008 and I am currently the School Secretary for Compton Early College. I am proud to work with some of the most amazing people whose primary purpose is to see Compton students reach higher education and thrive during the College years! 

Compton Unified has been very good to me and my family. I believe in giving back by providing the best Customer Service for students, parents, teachers and staff. Our front office works really hard behind the scenes to get the JOB DONE. I have a great team who supports me in keeping the office running smoothly. We are learning together every day which is why we welcome any feedback from our lovely families and students anytime. 

We will continue to show our support by sharing all there is to know about Compton Early College; such as, providing updated information, school calendars, current events, bell schedules, parent meetings, college news, and keeping up with your technology needs. We look forward to celebrating you and your scholar in upcoming Special Events. We are  proud to serve you and to be part of one of the top High Schools in Compton Unified. If you are not yet part of the family, please feel free to visit our Campus. 

Warm regards, 

Nancy Bravo 

School Secretary III

My name is Maria Ixta, I am the Attendance Clerk at CEC, I have been working at CUSD for 20 years and 15 of them as an Attendance Clerk, I really love and enjoy what I do, which is monitor students attendance, specially because I know that through my service I can make a difference in every student’s education and provide parents with the knowledge of how daily school attendance which impacts their child’s education. I truly believe that my contribution can make a difference in students’ success.

Hello my name is Vicki Johnson I am the Student Nutrition Supervisor here at Compton Early College.  I have been in the education field for 32 years working at all levels. One of my greatest pleasures in life is providing students with healthy and nourishing meals so that they are READY TO LEARN!  As a reminder we are serving meals for students every Tuesday and Thursday.

Hi, my name is Mrs. Patty Ribeiro. I have been a part of the Compton Early College (CEC) team for 3 years as Clerk II and the CEC Recruiter. It has been such an amazing and rewarding experience to work for CEC and be a part of a team that strives to provide the best education to our students and in our community. Education is our #1 priority. 

As Clerk II, I work together with the front office staff to ensure that the day to day office operations run smoothly to meet the needs of our students and parents. Our main goal is to provide the best friendly customer service to everyone that walks through our doors. I also have the privilege of overlooking the yearly recruiting and enrollment process for CEC. There is so much talent in Compton Unified and every year I have the honor to meet potential candidates and families that desire to continue to enhance their education. 

Thank you CEC families for all your support!!