Project Description
Cindy Duong, Fellow
Grover Cleveland Charter High School
Los Angeles, CA
Cindy Duong was born in Saigon, Vietnam and immigrated to the United States as a refugee at the close of her country’s civil war. A product of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), she was a first-generation college student. While at UCLA, Ms. Duong earned a double major in Economics and English, and graduated with College Honors and Phi Beta Kappa recognitions. After briefly working in the food consulting industry, she began teaching English and ESL courses, having enrolled in the LAUSD District Intern program, where she obtained her single-subject credential and received the Golden Apple Award for distinguished intern. Two years later, Ms. Duong completed the UCLA Principal’s Leadership Institute, earning a Master of Education degree with a focus on Administration and Policy Studies and subsequently, finished the Certificated Program in College Counseling through the university. Recently, she began her 25th year at Grover Cleveland Charter High School, where Ms. Duong has taught and served as literacy coordinator, reading coach, college adviser, assistant principal, and since 2014, as principal. After introducing the course into the school’s instructional program in 2000, she also continues to teach AP English Language. Ms. Duong believes education involves nurturing creative and critical thinkers, and that all students have the desire, ability, and right to learn, to receive the appropriate resources and support systems to foster success. Educators must be willing to embrace the uniqueness of each learner and to provide the conditions to help students develop - academically, personally, and socially.
Janet Frnzyan, Ally
Instructional Coach
Grover Cleveland Charter High School
Los Angeles, CA
Janet Frnzyan earned her B.A. Degree in English Literature from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She remained at CSUN where she completed her Special Education Clear Credential and earned a Master’s in Special Education. Ms. Frnzyan’s tenure in education started at Grover Cleveland Charter High School as a Special Education teacher. She taught students of various academic levels in the Special Day Program for ten years. Later, she moved out of the classroom and became the Special Education Coordinator where she served as a liaison for students and parents to obtain resources needed to access education and gain success. Currently, Ms. Frnzyan is the Instructional Coach, where she consults with teachers in planning lessons to accommodate all learners. She has dedicated her career to being an advocate for the most marginalized groups. Ms. Frnzyan’s philosophy on education is that every child, regardless of their socio economic background and educational history be provided with every opportunity to succeed.