Zugey is a true example of persistence. She migrated from Mexico many years ago, not knowing any English. Once she got established in this country, she began her adult education journey.
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She started in ESL classes as a beginner and although it took her several years to become confident, she became proficient enough to complete a High School Diploma Program. Throughout her time at school, Zugey’s personal life was full of struggles: she was a single mom and worked at jobs that paid the lowest possible wages.

At that point, she decided that she needed additional vocational training and came to El Monte-Rosemead Adult School for the Medical Assistant Program. She got married, was going to school, and was raising her child----she was also keeping a secret: she was experiencing domestic violence. Her last 90 days of class, Zugey lived in a temporary women’s shelter. She was plagued with the uncertainty that at any given moment she and her child would be living in the street.
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Throughout all of this, she has always been positive and always willing to help others. At times she has volunteered off-site at Health Fairs supporting others in need. When she completed her internship at the local medical facility, she started her career at a much better paying job. She said that it was all because of El Monte-Rosemead Adult School where she continues to study!

​First employed at EGACE
Therese began her tenure at EGACE in 2002.
 
General experience
In her role as a project implementer, Therese coordinates EGACE’s fee-based Always Learning community interest program, which serves 700-800 students annually.  She is responsible for coordinating and producing the EGACE school course catalogue, which is distributed to households, businesses, medical centers, libraries, and school sites throughout the district. She also serves on the Capital Adult Education Regional Consortium’s (CAERC) Marketing and Outreach workgroup. Prior to pandemic shutdown, Therese spent many weekends at community outreach events to promote EGACE programs and services. She keeps the EGACE website and Facebook account up-to-date, emphasizing the importance of the work we do in adult education by sharing student success stories and resources that are of interest and relevant to the communities EGACE serves.
 
On top of it all, Therese coordinates EGACE’s testing services department, which includes Pearson VUE, HiSET, paraeducator testing for the school district, and employment typing exams. She possesses an abundance of energy, and there is no job too big or too small for Therese. She embraces every project sent her way and is always willing to go above and beyond to pitch in whenever and wherever she is needed.
 
Personal highlights
Therese has always been active citizen in the community of Elk Grove. For six years, she was the Executive Director to the non-profit Elk Grove Senior Center, advisory board member for the Elk Grove Community Foundation, and served as president for the local chapter of Soroptimist International. She spearheaded a project to create a library for incarcerated women at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center, located in Elk Grove.
 
Therese and her husband Bob have three adult sons, Stephen, Mike, and Joe, along with two rescue dogs, Willy and Sophia.  Anybody who knows Therese, knows that she is the San Francisco Giants’ most ardent fan, and her unique laugh lets us all know when she is in the building.