Sheena may seem sporadic, while Whitney is methodical, but together we make a dynamic duo! We know how to play to each other’s strengths and it has served us well for the many years that we have worked together. Who knew back at Loyola Marymount University, when Whitney was Sheena’s TA, that we would still be working together all these years later!

(Side Note: We love everything about LMU! It is where we met, where we graduated from multiple times each, and where we teach future and current teachers.) 

We have always had the greatest passion to teach. However, we knew that we wanted to seek out other ways to have a greater impact on more teachers and students beyond our current work. So, we decided to start Lit for Science, combining our two passions of literacy and science. The ability to read, write, and make sense of the world is an essential life skill, and the driving force behind Lit for Science.

We both started our journey in science education launching tennis balls, building roller coasters, and making magic real as camp counselors at a science camp in Los Angeles. It taught us the importance of making learning fun, engaging, collaborative, and sparking curiosity in kids. We loved seeing students excited about science and the world around them. When we moved into our traditional classrooms, our most valuable lesson we learned was from our students. Our view of education was molded during our time serving students and learning what they care about, what they want to see in the world, and how they work best with each other. Every teacher has the potential to empower the kids that they serve, and every student has the potential to empower their teachers. Given the right resources and structures, all students can rise to the occasion and be successful. 

We love having the opportunity to meet fellow teachers, learn and generate new ideas, . We also love to eat lots of great food, travel to a new cities, and go sightseeing. Some other favorites include watching the Dodgers play (can we say World Series Champions 2020) and jamming out at concerts!