Born in Los Angeles, California, and growing up in what is considered a low-income/at-risk community section of the San Fernando Valley, overcoming systematic obstacles has been at the forefront of Fernando’s empowerment. Being a child of undocumented immigrants, Fernando used education and a vehicle to access, equity, and empowerment. After graduating from UCLA with a BA in Sociology, he decided to pursue his passion which was (and continues to be) empowering, inspiring, and motivating traditionally marginalized youth. He received a credential in Exceptional Needs and a MA in Multicultural/Multilingual Education from California State University, Northridge. Concurrently with his masters, he became a National Board Certified Teacher. As a teacher of Diverse Learners (Special Education and ESL), Fernando has empowered and motivated scores of students to see their true potential. He has taken his experiences academically and professionally to develop students of diverse backgrounds, support his colleagues, and champion positive change both locally and nationally. His keynote centered around understanding the contemporary diverse learner. He speaks to challenges students face and pushes the thinking of educators by having them reflect on their implicit bias and pedagogical approach.

Email: FChavez1980@gmail.com
Twitter: @uclafern