Gabriela Rios
Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE)
Modesto, CA USA
"We’re not only changing the life for [one] student or [one] school, we’re changing the trajectory of our country."
Career Roadmap
Gabriela's work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Spanish
California State University, Stanislaus
Certification
BCLAD Credential
California State University, Stanislaus
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I was born in Mexico and came to the U.S. when I was 10 years old.
2.
After high school, I went to a community college, where I found mentors who helped me navigate the education system.
3.
I transferred to California State University, Stanislaus, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in history.
4.
After graduating, I worked as a high school teacher but I quickly realized that working in a classroom wasn’t a great fit for me.
5.
I connected with a former executive director for the Parent Institute for Quality Education and she gave me the opportunity to become an associate director for the organization.
6.
I took over for the former executive director when she retired—I now lead the organization’s efforts for all of the California Central Valley.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I was the first in my family to graduate middle school, high school, and college. My friends inspired me to go to college but I had to navigate the process on my own. I started at community college and found mentors who helped me navigate the system.