Better Together

Q&A with the School Year 2024-25 Principal, Sarah Tenorio

When a student walks out of your school for the last time in 12th grade, what do you want them to say about their school experience?

"I grew so much here. Brio pushed me, supported me, and believed in me. I found my people, my purpose, and I know I’m ready for what’s next." - Sarah Tenorio, Principal

Looking back on this school year, what achievements make you the proudest?

Thriving School Culture: “Our Olympian Market brought together students, staff, and local Black-owned businesses for a vibrant celebration of entrepreneurship and community. Students connected with vendors like Lemonade Stand RUS, Kotton Stickers, and Listen Apparel, while Brio’s our Black Student Union showcased their work. Events like this honor Black History Month by amplifying Black voices, supporting local businesses, and inspiring future entrepreneurs!

College Prep Successes: “The school year 2025 graduating class earned 100% college acceptance to four-year universities, with three of our students earning full-ride scholarships through QuestBridge to top-tier universities like Johns Hopkins, UPenn, and Grinnell College!! We also achieved Gold Recognition on the AP School Honor Roll. These achievements are a testament to our collective work in preparing students for college and beyond.”

Q&A with the School Year 2024-25 Principal, Andrew Martinez

What sets East apart? 

“Our connection to each other within the school and to our greater community. We’re more than just a school in a community—we’re a school with a community. When our students are doing their PMC Journeys, they are taking their learnings and going into the community to serve. The Capstones bring 20+ career professionals who look and sound like them to share their stories and impacts with East students.” - Andrew Martines, Principal

Looking back on this school year, what achievements make you the proudest?

Healthcare Partnerships: East College Prep is “We expanded career-connected learning through strong healthcare partnerships. Students in the Med-COR program with USC Keck School of Medicine follow a four-year pathway with medical student mentoring and hands-on experiences like doctor shadowing and medical school classes. Additionally, a new partnership with East LA College allows students to earn college credit in biology, chemistry, and medical terminology, providing early exposure to healthcare careers.”

Sound of East: “Following the success of Rockers of East, students approached staff with an interest in forming a music group that dabbles in different genres and styles. The group, now led by Noemi Macias, gives students the opportunity to showcase their talents and grow together.”

Q&A with the School Year 2024-25 Principal, Jerek Brown

What is your role as the principal? What does being a principal mean to you? 

“It’s a job that comes with a lot of responsibility and pride. It’s my job that every kid feels welcome and safe here. The school is in a community that is rich in culture, that has many small family businesses, and that has everything needed for kids to succeed.”  Jerek Brown, Founding Principal

Looking back on this school year, what achievements make you the proudest?

Encore Industry Week: “Students spent the week of April 22-25 visiting career professionals in the entertainment and visual arts industries to understand what a career in the arts might look like for them after graduation. Students engaged in real-world experiences, from "Day in the Life" visits to hands-on workshops, to ignite their passions and prepare them for the future.”

Annual SoCal Beat Battle: “In our very first year participating in this regional showcase of emerging talent, 100% of students submitted original compositions created in our Music Production course. Students attended a culminating event at Spotify Studios, where they received feedback from professional producers and networked with music executives and artists. This experience was a powerful extension of our arts-integrated curriculum and a defining moment in our mission to prepare students for real-world creative industries.”

Q&A with the School Year 2024-25 Principal, Alejandra Chavez

What sets Esperanza apart? 

“Esperanza College Prep is a mission-driven school in East LA where students are known, challenged, and celebrated. Our advisory structure, cultural arts programs, and Capstone Pathways are all designed to help students build confidence, explore their passions, and amplify their voices. At Esperanza, students don’t just learn about their culture—they live it. Whether it’s through Ballet Folklórico de Esperanza or community-based projects, students are given real opportunities to lead, create, and take pride in their identity.”

Looking back on this school year, what achievements make you the proudest?

Career Connected Learning: “In response to student feedback, Esperanza we launched new initiatives to make learning more purposeful and career-connected. All students took part in Career Day, CollegeQuest field trips, and our first-ever Student-Led Workshop Palooza, where students created and led workshops based on their passions. Career Day and college visits were redesigned to reflect the specific interests students shared, ensuring every experience felt relevant and inspiring.”

Ballet Folklórico de Esperanza: “Our dance team was one of just 28 out of 120 groups selected in a highly competitive application process to perform in the 65th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration, televised on PBS SoCal. Led by Ignacio

Delgado-Hernandez and Ciani Murillo, their performance showcased our students’ talent, heart, and cultural pride. They were also one of just eight groups chosen to be highlighted in a special mini-documentary during the broadcast. It was a powerful moment of celebration for the entire Esperanza community.” 

Enjoy this recording of the show starting at 56:14.

Q&A with the School Year 2024-25 Principal, Evelyn Castro

What do you want Legacy to be known for? 

“We want to be known for fostering a community of hope, love, and belonging through authentic relationships with scholars, providing a rigorous and personalized college prep program, and empowering scholars to be agents of social change.”

Looking back on this school year, what achievements make you the proudest?

College Acceptances and Scholarships: “Our college prep program provides comprehensive guidance through every phase of the college journey—from understanding admissions and financial aid to identifying schools where students will thrive without incurring significant debt.

734 college acceptances were earned

$5.7 million in scholarships were awarded

100% of seniors were accepted into the CSU system 

76% were accepted into the UC system”

College-Level Learning for All Grades: “Our Dual Enrollment Partnership with Santa Ana College offers college access from day one. 120 students in grades 9-12 completed transferable college courses taught by college professors. By graduation, 51% of seniors earned college credits, giving them a powerful head start toward postsecondary success.”

Q&A with the School Year 2024-25 Principal, Rachael DeRogatis 

What sets Hybrid apart? 

“Our unwavering commitment to helping students build their futures with intention and carve a path toward a life full of purpose and possibility. I want them to say about their school experience, ‘This school helped me become the person I am today. It didn’t just teach me—it believed in me, shaped me, and showed me what’s possible.”

Looking back on this school year, what achievements make you the proudest?

Student-Led Initiatives: “Students are at the heart of campus culture. From leading tours as Trojan Ambassadors to organizing blood drives, debate tournaments, and school-wide events, our student-led clubs brought energy and purpose into every hallway. Four honors societies—Alliance of Black Student Excellence, National, Dance, and Spanish—celebrated academic excellence, identity, and culture. Through town halls, dances, and FunFest, Trojan Student Government kept our school community connected year-round.”

InTroVenture: “InTroVenture Week expanded learning beyond the classroom, providing students with hands-on experiences tied to potential college majors. From travel and museum visits to community service and networking, students explored new opportunities in real-world settings.”

Q&A With the School Year 2024-25 Principal, Catherine Yuan 

How would you describe your school culture and student experience? 

“Our school culture is rooted in belonging, high expectations, and collaboration. Students describe it as a close-knit community where ‘everyone knows each other and supports one another.’ Town halls reinforce values of respect, kindness, and emotional safety. With a student‑teacher ratio of about 17:1, teachers are viewed as genuinely caring, engaged, and invested in student growth, academic and personal. Participation in school events, leadership initiatives, and advisory cohorts is high, and students feel empowered to use their voices and help shape school life.”

Looking back on this school year, what achievements make you the proudest?

Student-Led Clubs: “Students are at the center of everything we do. Student-led clubs brought energy and meaning to our campus—from the Drama Club hosting a schoolwide Haunted House to the Associated Student Government organizing town halls, dances, and field days year-round. Our Knight Ambassadors proudly represented the school for future Knights and throughout the community, and the National and Spanish Honor Societies celebrated academic achievement, cultural pride, and personal identity.” 

Launch of Football Program: “Our inaugural football program brought a new wave of school spirit and unity to our campus. From building a dedicated coaching staff to assembling our first-ever team, the launch has been a powerful display of commitment, perseverance, and pride. Students, families, and staff rallied behind the program, filling the stands at our first game and cheering on our Knights as they made school history. Beyond the game itself, the football program has become a new space for leadership, teamwork, and community connection to thrive.”

Q&A with the School Year 2024-25 Principal, Drew Dozier

What do you want EVA to be known for? 

“We want to be known as the gold standard in virtual education—a school that proves students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally in an online setting. It’s a place where students graduate prepared, connected, and confident, ready to lead in college and beyond.”

Looking back on this school year, what achievements make you the proudest?

Evolving Our Model: “As the needs of our students evolve, so does our model. To deepen support and streamline learning, we launched new advisory structures with an added emphasis on wellness, future planning, and peer connection. We also introduced AI-powered tools into students’ college and career portfolios, making future planning more relevant and accessible. These shifts keep us agile and student-centered, ensuring we stay at the forefront of what virtual education can be.”

Graduation Luncheon: “This year’s Graduation Luncheon was a powerful reminder of EVA’s impact. Seniors, families, and staff came together in person to celebrate milestones, share reflections, and honor each student’s journey. For many, it was the first time meeting classmates and teachers face-to-face, a moving culmination of years of virtual connection and perseverance. The event embodied our values: community, celebration, and the deep belief that every student’s path matters.”