Team Members And Teachers
David Franz, PhD, Education Partnership Director
David Franz is a graduate of Shafter High School and Fresno Pacific University. He attended graduate school at the University of Virginia, where he earned a doctoral degree in Sociology. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. His scholarship has been featured in several national media outlets including NPR's Backstory, The Atlantic, First Things, and The New Republic. In 2010, he returned to Shafter to serve as Director of the Shafter Education Partnership. This work has been recognized with awards from the Shafter Chamber of Commerce, the Richland School District, the Kiwanis Club of Shafter, and the Kern County Council of Governments. He is passionate about learning and the community of Shafter.
Monica Palafox, Teacher
Monica Palafox was born and raised in East Bakersfield and later moved to the outskirts of Shafter. She is a proud graduate of Shafter High and CSU Bakersfield. She holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Applied Mathematics with a concentration in Economics. She is currently finishing a Masters of Arts degree from WGU and is hoping to attain a teaching credential by the end of 2021. As a first generation college student, Monica has been a role model for her younger siblings and strives to be a resource for them and others. She has held a teaching position at Richland Jr. High that greatly helped her further her skills and experience within the field of education. With her skills in math and her willingness to help, she hopes to give back to her community and instill a growth mindset for those she helps.
Valente Trujillo Padilla, Team Member
Valente Trujillo Padilla was raised in Shafter and is a Shafter High graduate. He is currently attending Bakersfield College to obtain his associates degree in Business Administration and Welding. He plans to transfer to the California State University of Bakersfield to receive a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Valente's ultimate goal is to help the community.
Edna Ivana Muy-Mastrocinque, Teacher
Edna Ivana Muy-Mastrocinque, is a teacher who loves contributing to her community. She has lived in Shafter since 2006. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with a TESOL certification and Master’s Degree in a foreign language from California State University Bakersfield. For the past four years she has worked at Taft Community College as a teacher. She has gathered lots of experience on how to interact with students, encourage them to enjoy extra-curricular activities, and study groups. During her professional career she has worked with special needs students, motivated students and supervised study groups for adult students. Mrs. Muy-Mastrocinque, has been working with the Shafter Education Partnership, helping parents reach their English language fluency goals, since 2011. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family.
Neyda Davalos, Teacher
Neyda Davalos was born in Montclair, CA, and is a graduate of Shafter High School and Cal State Bakersfield. She attended CSUB's teaching credential program. Neyda enjoys teaching, learning, and has worked with students of all ages. She takes pride in her work as she loves to help the students in her community. Neyda's overall academic goal is to attain a master's degree and become a college professor.
Team Member
Elsa Solorio, Program Coordinator
Elsa Solorio was born and raised in the central coast in a small town much like Shafter. After moving to Kern County in 2014, her family felt Shafter would a great fit for their sons to attend school at. Since then, Elsa has grown to love the Shafter community and enjoys working to provide support in any way she can. Elsa obtained a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences with concentrations in Psychology, Sociology, and Organizational Leadership. She then went on to pursue her master's degree in Teaching. Elsa has worked with students of all ages, from young elementary aged learners up to high school, helping them to also transition into college. Her varied experience in Education, including that of supporting her own children, has given Elsa the opportunity to explore the many ways that students can learn and grow. Elsa now enjoys working at the Shafter Library & Learning Center, providing the suport and unique experiences that she hopes will bring the Shafter community new and enriching opportunities.
Ana Dominguez, Team Member
Ana Dominguez was born in King City California. She was raised in Nuevo Chupicuaro, Guanajuato, Mexico. Graduated from EPIC Cesar Chavez High School in 2017. She is currently attending California Stata University, Bakersfield pursuing a major in English and a minor in Child Development. Her ultimate goal is to become a bilingual teacher and help migrant students to cope with the American community and traditions, but also provide them with the necessary information to go to college and have a better education.
Monica Ramirez, Team Member
Monica Ramirez is attending Bakersfield College and plans to become a Registered Nurse. Ms. Ramirez is originally from Guanajuato, Mexico. She is excited to be part of the Learning Center to serve as a tutor.
Brenda Lopez, Team Member
Brenda Lopez is a Shafter native who graduated from Shafter High School. She is a first generation college graduate, graduating from California State University, Bakersfield and received her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies Multiple Subject. She plans to enroll in the credential program and hopes to teach in the Shafter community. She has worked in an after school program with the Richland School District.
Paola García, Teacher
Paola García graduated from Shafter High School and soon after attended California State University of Bakersfield for Liberal Studies. While attending college, she worked in multiple educational programs such as Cal-Soap, Project Rebound and Kern Tutoring. Through these programs, Paola tutored and educated students ranging from the ages of 5 - 50 years of age. Along with these programs, she also completed the teaching credential program at CSUB. Paola plans on continuing her journey in the educational field and hopes to attain her masters in Educational Curriculum and Instruction. Paola is at her best when she is working with students, helping them achieve all their educational goals and dreams.
Nancy Becerra
Hello. My name is Nancy Becerra. I am from Shafter, CA. I graduated in the Fall of 2020 from California State University Bakersfield, majoring in Art Education. I have always been interested in Art my whole life. It was always my favorite and strongest subject throughout school. When I was in Shafter High, I took a couple of Art classes, which were painting and ceramics. When I got to CSUB, I was introduced to various media like sculpture, photography, video art, and more. I knew I wanted to pursue Art as my career. Luckily, through a paid internship through the Kern District, I was able to start as an intern at the Bakersfield Museum of Art, where I got to expand my knowledge and experience teaching art to toddlers, kids, and teenagers. I am currently still at the Bakersfield Museum of Art as a Museum Assistant, Educator, and Membership Assistant. I also enjoy coaching girls' soccer for Shafter High. I always volunteered coaching after High School, and in 2020 I was hired as an assistant coach for jv/varsity. I love being involved with the community, but I also love spending time with my friends, family, and cat.
Sandra Castillo, Team Member
Sandra Castillo was born and raised in Jalisco, Mexico. She has been living in Shafter since 2013. She attended Taft college where she obtained an Associate of Science degree in Mathematics. Sandra holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from California State University, Bakersfield. She enjoys supporting the community with education, especially the children. Her short-term goal is to continue learning and assisting the community through education and new technology.
Anabel Victoria Mendez, Team Member
Anabel Victoria Mendez was born in Torrance, California and moved to Wasco where she was raised since she was about 6 years old. Anabel graduated from Wasco High School in 2019. She is currently attending California State University, Bakersfield pursing a major in nursing. Anabel plans to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Nursing and plans to become a neonatal nurse. She enjoys helping children with their education and being in a small town that provides educational opportunities to children and their parents.
Nayeli Puente, Team Member
Nayeli Puente was born and raised in Shafter. She graduated Shafter High in 2021. She is currently attending California State University of Bakersfield where she plans on getting her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and plans on being a registered nurse. She loves helping the community in every way she can and enjoys working with children.
Estrella Ramirez, Team Member
Estrella was born and raised in Guanajuato, Mexico. She and her family moved to Shafter when she was 11 years old and has been living in Shafter ever since. She attended Richland Middle School and Shafter High School where she graduated in 2021. She is currently attending Bakersfield College in hopes to transfer to Cal State Bakersfield and get her Bachelor's degree in Spanish. She hopes to be able to teach here in Shafter and give back to the community that embraced her when she moved here.
Joel Perez, Teacher
Joel has mentored and tutored students in multiple subjects for nearly 11 years. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a double major in Marine Science and Environmental Science with a minor in Spanish Composition/Literature, Integrative Biology, and also completed the CalTeach Program. He is looking forward to attending graduate school this upcoming Fall 18, where he will either participate in the Masters Program for counseling & also try on receiving a multi-subject credential or participating in a PhD program where he will conduct research on the Megafloods that occur here in California. Joel plans on giving back to his community and helping students further their education. He wants to help encourage them to strive for a better future and that they are capable of succeeding in life. He also enjoys traveling, collecting rocks, and making people laugh.
Lizbeth Becerra
My name is Lizbeth Becerra, I normally go by Liz. I am from Shafter, CA. I graduated from Cal State University of Bakersfield and obtained my Bachelor's Degree in Child Development and a minor in Sociology. I have worked as a teacher for about 8 years, where I have been teaching pre-k for the majority of my life. I have also worked as a classroom aide with different age groups. My hobbies include spending time with my daughter, playing soccer, and spending time with my family as well.