John grew up in East Los Angeles and attended school in Glendale, California. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara before transferring to UCLA where he earned his BS in Biology and his California teaching credential. He later earned his California Teacher of English Learners Certificate at UCLA.
John currently teaches Graphics Communications and Robotics at Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. He developed the Imaging Sciences and Technology Academy (ISTA), a STEM Academy on Manual Arts Campus, and which boasts a graduation success rate of 78%. He also serves as the MESA advisor
Prior to coming to Manual Arts High School, John worked as an accounts payable supervisor for Sears, Roebuck and Co, a Field Engineer at Bell and Howell and Decision Data Computer Corporation.
John has been honored with several Awards throughout his career. His program was honored by the White House in 2008. In 2010, he was selected “Southern California’s Math, Engineering, Science Advisor of the Year” and the “Educator of the Year” for the Los Angeles Council of Engineers and Scientists. In the spring of 2012, John’s student robotics team finished 8th in the world in the Zero Robotics Autonomous Capture Challenge, sponsored by NASA, MIT and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which include both high school and university teams from around the world.
-Published 2012
