Lorena Ellis is a 2023 -2024 Teach Plus California Senior Policy Fellow and a Community Schools Program Specialist at Gladstone Middle School in Azusa, California. Dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment centered around restorative justice practices for staff, students, parents and the community at large. Lorena began her 24 year teaching career as a bilingual teacher and has since taught various grades between 1st and 5th before serving as a program specialist. Lorena has served as a site G.A.T.E. coordinator, a student council coordinator, and has served as an ELPAC item reviewer. Lorena was honored for her efforts and participation in Teach Plus by the Azusa Unified School District (2023); Murray Elementary Teacher of the Year (2017-2018). She graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a BA in Liberal Studies and received her MEd in Educational Leadership and a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential from Azusa Pacific University. She is currently enrolled at UCI and working on clearing her Administrative Services Credential.
