Jessica Perez joined the Environmental Charter Middle School Gardena (ECMS-G) in 2021 as the 7th grade Paraeducator. Before joining ECS, she was the Academic Coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club in Wilmington, CA. She created and facilitated engaging activities for K-5th grade students. She has also served as a College Peer Advisor at Lynwood High School, where she provided services related to college readiness, financial aid assistance, and academic motivation. These career opportunities further ignited Jessica’s passion to support and uplift first-generation, low-income students like herself.
Jessica is at ECS because she loves the emphasis on environmental sustainability and social justice. Jessica enjoys working with students and helping them improve their academic and social skills. She has always found it important to make connections with students because it gives them a sense of safety and comfortability in the school environment, which can bring out the best in them.
Jessica graduated from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and holds a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Communication Studies. In her time at CSULB she joined Hermanas Unidas de Long Beach where she found a sense of community and belonging. In 2019, she studied abroad in Spain and completed a course in Chicano Studies. It was one of the best experiences of her life!
Jessica was born and raised in Gardena and absolutely loves the community she grew up in. She wants to see the youth in her community thrive and help them become successful beings both in and out of school. She enjoys working out, playing Pokemon Go, practicing bass guitar, and rocking out in concerts (before the pandemic).