From her earliest days in education, Clarissa has been passionate about creating educational equity for all students that emphasizes diversity and inclusivity, as well as access to a quality fine arts instruction. As a young child she was introduced to music by her family and raised to appreciate its communicative and healing properties. Throughout her academic career Clarissa has participated in multiple choir programs, including the traveling ensemble Naja Voce, as well as the University of Arizona High School Honor Choir. Throughout her academic and professional career, she has also been drawn to the field of education and has pursued various mentorship opportunities in her tenure as a student. Clarissa decided to expand on her experience in education through the Teach for America organization, and she taught 7th & 8th grade English Language Arts in the greater Metro Phoenix area. While she was teaching, Clarissa was compelled to continue her own education, and pursued a Master of Education degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis on humanities and language arts.
As a native Phoenician, Clarissa has been raised to appreciate the diversity in culture throughout the valley, and as such, she remains passionate that all children should have access to an education that allows them to pursue artistic expression.
Ever since her earliest days performing and teaching, she has been passionate about sharing that love of music with her peers and her students. Clarissa hopes to leverage her desire of expanding access to music education, as well as her prior experience in vocal performance and education instruction, so that it can positively impact the students at Rosie’s House.