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Dr. Cassandra Villa is an instructional coach and English educator at Warren High School in Downey, CA. She received her PhD from Claremont Graduate University in 2017 with a focus on Education Urban Leadership. Dr. Villa has also worked in large charter management organizations in South Los Angeles and Watts as English department chair, instructional lead, and common core implementation coach. In Downey Unified public schools, she is working with fellow educators to build collective efficacy and support systems in and outside of the classroom as an instructional site coach. She is a member of the human relations steering committee council committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion working closely with the superintendent and fellow colleagues throughout the district to develop and create a district equity plan. She also serves on the union executive board as a high school director for the Downey Education Association to serve CTA members at her school site. Her focus is on developing professional development for educators with a focus on culturally responsive teaching through a culturally proficient lens.

Recently, she has been supporting preservice teachers at Pepperdine's Graduate School of Education and Psychology as adjunct faculty teaching Clinical 2 in the Master of Arts Teaching program. She has been a speaker and presenter at various professional development trainings and continues to connect with other critical educators across the nation. Her ultimate passion is to continue her lifelong career and commitment to serve students, create more equitable spaces for all, and provide the youth with the tools with which to navigate and impact society and the world. As a Pacoima, California native and first generation college student from humble beginnings and a hard working family, she is committed to creating opportunities for all students and leading with love.