Yara Cipatlic Hidalgo serves as a middle school Math and Spanish Teacher at Sacred Heart Nativity Schools in San Jose, California. She also attends Santa Clara University’s Master of Arts in Teaching for Catholic Schools Teacher program. As a facilitator of ALearn’s College Readiness Program for incoming high school freshmen in the East Side of San Jose where she grew up, Yara inspires and motivates students to ensure academic success and pursue higher education. She is a member of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley and participates in the Engaged Latina Leadership Activist Program where she undertakes pertinent issues, such as wage theft, affecting Latina women in the Silicon Valley. Yara constantly strives to educate and empower youth and women to rise above society’s expectations to be strong leaders in their community.