Ms. Ordonez is an English teacher in the Ocean House at Vista High School in Vista, California.  She teaches English language arts is passionate about teaching and learning.  She works with a team of teachers whose mission is to support students in their acquisition of academic skills so that they may be successful in school, the workplace and the world.  Ms. Ordonez’s primary purpose as an educator is to inspire learners to meet their full potential.  She has over 20 years of experience in education, working primarily with at-risk students and underserved populations. She is an expert in differentiated and English Language Development instruction.  She is well-versed in project-based and personal learning and believes that learner engagement and success are achieved through increased student agency, voice, and choice.

As an instructor in the Personal Learning Academy at Vista High School, Ms. Ordonez partnered with a cross-curricular team of teachers to develop a pilot program that integrated interdisciplinary, personalized, project-based learning.  She was a core team member in the XQ Superschool Award application process that helped to secure a $10,000,000 award to transform education at Vista High School.

As a member of the inaugural staff of an Inland Empire high school, she also worked collaboratively with an instructional team to bridge achievement gaps and consistently improve student success.  She has served as an English Language Development Academic Coach to support content area teachers to more effectively address the needs of underperforming students.  Ms. Ordonez has consistently sought to engage in innovative solutions to deepen student learning and inspire critical thinking.

Ms. Ordonez is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton.  She holds single-subject teaching credentials in English and Spanish, a Multiple Subject Credential, and a Bilingual Crosscultural Language in Academic Development Certificate (BCLAD).  She has participated in the California State University, San Marcos Writing Project as both a fellow and a teacher coach and is a certified Computer Using Educator (CUE).  She recently graduated with her Master’s Degree in Education from California State University, San Marcos.  Ms. Ordonez also served honorably in the United States Army as a legal specialist and military court reporter.

Ms. Ordonez’s Thrively top strengths are Worldly, Verbal, Compassion, Social Justice and Academic.  Her Strengthfinder top 5 are Harmony, Connectedness, Input, Empathy and Learner.