Meet the GALS Staff

Mildred Ramirez, Office & Food Program Coordinator • mramirez@galsla.org

Jeannie McCloud, 6th grade science & gals 101 • smccloud@galsla.org

Coming Soon!

Michelle acosta, 6th grade math and English & 6TH GRADE LEAD TEACHER• macosta@galsla.org

Meet Ms. Michelle Acosta. She is a founding teacher at GALS LA with experience teaching Math, Science, and History. She has always been passionate about social justice and education. Prior to working for GALS LA, she volunteered as a research assistant at UCLA's Social Interactions and Social Stigma Lab, with the Reading to Kids organization, and as a tutor to foster children. She graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Education. She was then recruited by Teach for America, graduated with a Masters in Urban Education from LMU, and cleared her credential through Cal State LA's advanced clearing program for exceptional teachers.

Ms. Michelle chose GALS because of our commitment to developing the whole child and providing a safe space for girls to explore their identity and their potential. Due to her passion for using psychology to inform education, she was eager to join a school that made social-emotional support a priority and readily available to students. When she heard about the GALS 101 core class, brain boosts, and emphasis on movement activities to inspire positive self-esteem, team building, and increased collaboration, she immediately accepted her job offer.

She has also been known to share her passion for music with her classes and through the electives: Voice, Zumba, and Figurative Language in Music. She also loves to incorporate songs and visuals into her lessons. During her free time, Ms. Michelle enjoys karaoke, learning to play beginner keyboard, scrapbooking, reading in Spanish and French to improve her mastery of these languages, and studying new things so that she can eventually teach her students even more subjects in the future. 

Google phone number: (818) 570-3198‬ 

7th Grade Teachers

Ginneh Lewis, 7th grade science & 7th grADE LEAD TEACHER • glewis@galsla.org

Ginneh came to GALS in 2017 as the 7th grade science teacher.  She loves everything outdoors, and with the GALS girls created the first GALS Garden. She hopes she can spread her enthusiasm for science, nature, and the beautiful California outdoors to her students and share those experiences with them. Her career started out with a BA in Biology and a minor in Environmental Science and Policy at Hartwick College in New York. Before she began teaching in the classroom, she taught science outdoors in New York State and Big Bear Lake, CA. She lived along the Hudson River Estuary (outside of NYC) and worked for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a camp counselor, waterfront director, and camp director. She taught 3 years of high school Earth Science, Biology, and Chemistry at GALS Denver and for Alliance College Ready Public Schools for 3 years. So many of her opportunities have been provided to her through her education, so she went into teaching because this is what she wants for others. Oh, and if you don’t know, she is a reptile enthusiast and will be sure to help you fall in love with Maxine, her bearded dragon, while helping spread awareness about respect for all living things! In her free time she enjoys dancing, swimming, biking, and volunteering with shelter animals.

Ms. Ginneh’s Google Classroom Website

blake wagner, 7th grade english language arts • bwagner@galsla.org

Coming Soon!

Yulisa becerra, 7th grade history • ybecerra@galsla.org

Yulisa received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of California Los Angeles, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Spanish Linguistics. She is currently attending Loyola Marymount University in the intern credential program to obtain a credential as a single subject History/Social Science educator and Masters Degree in education. She taught preschool for three years as an Assistant Teacher for the UCLA Early Care and Education Center. 

Yulisa believes in the power of education. As a first generation graduate she is aware that education brings knowledge, builds self-confidence and is a tool for gaining opportunities and opening new paths for our students. She is an advocate for GALS' social-emotional learning model and the influential role social-emotional learning plays in education. Yulisa is passionate about inspiring and empowering the young women at GALS. 

Devin Diaz, 7th grade math • ddiaz@galsla.org

Devin is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Los Angeles when she was 12. Devin was homeschooled for 6th grade, so she understands the difficulties of online learning. She attended UCLA as an education major, and graduated university with a 4.0 as Summa Cum Laude. She is super excited to have joined the GALS team in 2021.

In her free time, Devin is a dedicated mother to three beautiful cats, Pascal, Juno, and Pringle (please ask her about them!). She also loves arts and crafts, drawing, reading, binge watching TV, fun facts, and especially MATH. She has been a tutor for 13 years and has been a full time teacher since she was 23. 

8th Grade Teachers

Cynthia Alvarez-Preciado, 8th grade math • @galsla.org

Meet Ms. Cynthia. She was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley so she is familiar with our community. She received a Bachelors of Science in Computer Engineering with a minor in Applied Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is currently attending Loyola Marymount University in the intern credential program to obtain a credential as a single subject Foundational Mathematics educator as well as earn her Master's Degree in Education.

She chose GALS because of its unique learning experience with the involvement of movement. She is excited to coach her Wellness Team as she has experience coaching novice swim and synchronized swim teams. She has had experience tutoring others since she was in middle school and her favorite school subject had always been math so she's very excited to teach 8th grade math. Apart from teaching, she is a certified LA City Lifeguard and swim instructor. She also enjoys going to the gym for a variety of classes such as Zumba, yoga, and cycling. Her other hobbies include swimming, listening to music, cuddling her cat Luna, and spending time with her family.

Ben easton, 8th grade history & 8th grade lead teacher • beaston@galsla.org

This is Ben’s 4th year as a teacher at GALS. Before coming to GALS, Ben was a part-time philosophy instructor at Azusa Pacific University. Ben holds a B.A. in religious studies from Azusa Pacific University and an M.A. in philosophy from Cal State LA. In his free time, Ben enjoys running, running, and running. His favorite foods include quesadillas, sardines, and spinach. 

What Ben loves most about GALS is that it is a brave space where not only students but staff as well are encouraged to see the loving nature in others and themselves and make a positive difference in the world in their own unique way - just to name a few.

Alyssa worbetz, 8th grade science & Director of movement & Atheletics • aworbetz@galsla.org

Alyssa is originally from New Jersey. She was a High School Biology Teacher as well as a Softball and Field Hockey Coach for 8 years before coming to GALS. She has a Master of Science & a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, and a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree. She attended Clemson University and Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey where she played Division III Field Hockey. Alyssa joined the GALS LA team in 2017 and she loves everything science, coaching softball and field hockey, and organizing Morning Movement! She believes that movement and brain boosts are imperative on the road to a healthy life. Alyssa enjoys hot yoga, hiking, tap dancing, and spending some free time with her two cats!!

Ms. Alyssa’s Google Classroom

CAROLINE WILLIS, 6th grade english language arts & gals 101 • CWILLIS@galsla.org

Caroline is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California where she earned a B.A. in English/Creative Writing. After college, she moved to Dallas, Texas, where she completed the Educator Preparation Program at Southern Methodist University and taught 10th grade English for two years before returning to LA and joining the GALS team in 2020.

Caroline is thrilled to be at GALS and to be part of a team that believes in a holistic approach to education. Movement has always been an important part of her life. Many of her favorite family memories involve biking. Tennis and ultimate frisbee have helped her strengthen some of her most special friendships, and she learned some of life's greatest lessons through competitive swimming. In the past, she has also had the opportunity to coach for Girls On The Run and knows first-hand how empowering movement, teamwork, and personal goal-setting can be for women of all ages.

In her free time, Caroline is a dedicated mother to two beautiful cats (please ask her about them!). When she is not doting over them, though, you can find her knitting, writing, reading, sketching, playing video games, and watching and talking about TV. She also loves learning new things and is currently studying Japanese.

ELAINA WADDELL, EL Coordinator and 8th grade gals 301 • EWADDELL@GALSLA.ORG

Elaina earned her Masters in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from ASU and her undergraduate degree in ESL Education at UW-Milwaukee. She has been teaching and working with English Learners since 2015. She is passionate about helping guide all students to their own success.

Elaina is also a true lover of both nature and travel. In her free time, she enjoys backpacking, surfing, reading, and taking road trips.

Special Education Staff & Specialists

edrees akram, Education specialist • eakram@galsla.org

Edrees was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley in the city of Reseda. He graduated from Reseda High School, then attended Pierce college to obtain his AA in Sociology. He then transferred to Cal State LA, where he obtained a BA in History: Teacher Preparation. He is currently attending California State University at Northridge in the intern credential program to obtain a credential as an Education Specialist. He began teaching at GALS in 2017 as an Education Specialist for the 7th grade. Prior to that, he worked as a paraprofessional for GALS, and was an After-School All-Stars coach during the founding year. Edrees is passionate about the movement-based curriculum and the value of the close-knit school community. He knew GALS was an amazing place to work when he saw how much the administration and teachers cared about the students. Edrees enjoys spending time with his family, girlfriend, and close friends. He enjoys watching sports, and is a huge Lakers and Dodgers fan. In his spare time, Edrees enjoys lifting weights, playing basketball, and boxing.

latrice joyce, SPECIAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR & Education specialist • ljoyce@galsla.org

LaTrice earned her degree in Psychology from California State University at Northridge and is currently working on her Master’s in Education at Loyola Marymount University.  As the first person in her family to graduate college, she understands the value of an education. After years of working in Real Estate and as an Executive Assistant, LaTrice decided to pursue her passion of education. While LaTrice is new to teaching full-time, as of joining the team in 2018, she has 4 years of experience working with kids age 5-17 as a tutor. LaTrice is a San Fernando Valley native, born in Lakeview Terrace, CA, and working at GALS has been a great experience as she gets to work in her own community.  LaTrice loves GALS’ holistic approach and the focus on social-emotional support, as she believes this is large part of developing a human being — not just educating students’ minds, but taking care of the whole person. In her free time, LaTrice enjoys hiking, travel, reading, trivia, and playing board games.

blanca guerrero, paraeducator • bguerrero@galsla.org

Blanca joined GALS in 2017 as an After-School All-stars coach, also coaching the GALS cheer team from 2017 to 2018. In 2018, Blanca joined GALS, full time, as a paraprofessional. Blanca is passionate about the movement-based curriculum GALS offers and the dedication all teachers and staff demonstrate at GALS. She knew GALS was an amazing place to work and contribute to.

Blanca attended Los Angeles Mission College and hopes to continue school to become a nurse. She dreams one day of becoming a labor and delivery nurse. 

Blanca was born and raised in Pacoima. Blanca loves sports, and began cheerleading at the age of 10 years old. She participated in all-star cheer competitions and high school sideline cheer. She also played softball at a young age. Blanca enjoys spending time with her baby, family and close friends. She enjoys watching live baseball, going to the beach and dancing. She is a huge Disney and Dodgers fan.