Induction Mini Conference - April 30, 2025

Brittany is an Early Learning support TOSA and has been in IUSD for 18 years.  She has taught grades K-5 and for the previous 6 years was an Intervention TOSA for University Park and IUSD’s Prevention/Intervention department. Her passion is supporting teachers and struggling students. Brittany grew up going to Irvine schools and received her BA, teaching credential, and Master’s in Education from Concordia University.  

Georgia has worked in education for 18 years as a Spanish and English Language Development Teacher and TOSA. She has experience teaching in public, public charter, private, and international schools, working with students age five to adult. As a TOSA in IUSD's Language Development Programs, Georgia works with teachers and administrators to improve the educational experience of English learner students. She enjoys warm weather, hiking, frequenting the beautiful beaches of SoCal, and volunteering.

Hi, I am Lauren Cohen and I am in my 26th year as an educator in Irvine Unified. I started my career here at the elementary level and moved into high school about 18 years ago. I am currently a 9th grade English teacher, but have spent time during my career as IHS ELD Coordinator for twelve years, an intervention teacher for struggling learners, and an IVA teacher for two-and-a-half years. I received my doctoral degree with a focus in Educational Psychology and that is where my true student-focused passion comes from to understand and create classrooms that are equitable for all learners, including... Read more

Kim Farag is a true IUSD veteran, leaving her mark in classrooms across the district- from the spirited Cadence Park Pumas, to the ebullient Eastshore dolphins, to the soaring Brywood Blue Jays and Deerfield Falcons, and the shining Plaza Vista stars. These experiences have equipped her with a comprehensive perspective on the diverse needs and nuances of different cultures and communities in IUSD. Currently serving as an elementary literacy TOSA, Kim is committed to igniting the spark of literacy in every young mind she encounters. In this capacity, Kim has the privilege of supporting her fellow... Read more

Nikkita Fox is the Elementary Literacy TOSA and leads the work on the Primary Literacy Project. She is passionate about the research on the Science of Reading and was an integral part of the first ever Science of Reading Institute at IUSD. She has over 10 years of experience and has worn every hat from classroom teacher to PLC Facilitator Coach and Intervention Lead. Nikkita is a fun-loving wife, mother, and rescue dog mom!

Hi! I'm Emmi Kohout, IUSD's World Language & Literacy TOSA. Prior to joining the Literacy Department, I taught Spanish for over 10 years to students from 8th grade to university in public and private schools. I've had the privilege of teaching many different age groups, subjects, and in a variety of school settings. I've so often been "the new teacher" or "the new person" who has had to reinvent her systems and practices. Over the years, I've studied classroom management, pedagogy, second language acquisition, efficiency hacks, and teacher productivity tips. I love to share everything I've learned... Read more

Rebecca Nakagawa, IUSD’s K-12 ELA Coordinator, and her phenomenal team (Jackie Guy, Raymond Robinson, Emmi Kohout, Natalie Hanks, Nikkita Fox, and Kim Farag) believe in equity and empowerment through literacy instruction. Their vision for IUSD focuses on all students leaving the district with a love of reading and developing literacy skills in reading, writing, and speaking & listening.  Rebecca holds an Ed.D. in K-12 Leadership in Urban School Settings from the University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education, where her dissertation focused on teacher differentiated curriculum... Read more

I am a Math and ASB teacher at Jeffrey Trail Middle School. I've been teaching for 12 years and have been at JTMS since it opened in 2013. I've worked with induction participating teachers and enjoy teaching both students as well as new teachers. I love teaching middle school math and I love working with the leadership students on the events around school.