Heather Schacher '19

I am originally from the Bay Area, but I currently still live in Los Angeles. I graduated in 2019 from LMU with a B.A in Sociology, and was also the program scholar of the major that year. At the same time, I also earned my secondary teaching credential in mathematics and went on to become a Math Teacher at Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy, where I am still working. Since graduating with a B.A in Sociology, my main passion is the sociology of education, and understanding how different societal systems and structures impact educational outcomes. I advocate for students and education equity to ensure that all students, regardless of race, class, socioeconomic status, etc., can receive a high-quality education to be able to pursue post-secondary education. I currently serve as the Math Department Chair, and also serve as the Alumni Champion, where I support students during their college endeavors, as most of our graduates will be first-generation college students. Additionally, I returned to LMU for my Master's Degree, and earned my M.A in School Administration and a school administrator credential.

During my time at LMU, I also participated in an alternative breaks trip with the Center for Service and Action, where I traveled to Guatemala, and I also support a similar program on my school's campus, currently called Global Glimpse. As a volunteer mentor for this program, I run leadership workshops and lead discussions with students on a variety of topics such as global citizenship and intersectionalities of privilege. At the culmination of this program, my students travel with Global Glimpse for 11 days to a Latin American Country where they are without internet connection and immerse themselves in the experiences of a new community and culture, with other students from the Los Angeles region outside of our school site.