ACCESO Team
Teresa Castro, PUENTE/ACCESO Counselor
Teresa Castro was born and raised in San Jose, CA of Mexican immigrants. She began her educational journey at De Anza College where she was a part of the Puente Program. Puente gave her a community and support to reach higher education through mentors and counselors that guided her to transfer. After completing her Associates of Arts in English and Liberal Arts, Teresa transferred to the University of California, Berkeley and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Because of the impact that community college and Puente made on her journey she earned her Master’s of Arts in Counseling and Guidance from San Jose State University to become a counselor and serve community college students. Teresa’s work experience began at De Anza College where she interned with the Puente Program, worked full-time with the Office of Outreach, and part-time with International Student Programs. She thrives helping first- generation and underrepresented students reach their educational goals.
Johanna Esther Carranza, HSI Coordinator
Johanna Esther Carranza was an ESOL student at the College of Alameda 25 years ago and completed Child Development credits at Merritt College. She began teaching Spanish and English for Montessori preschools and non-profit organizations 16 years ago, while also working as an ESOL/English and Spanish tutor at the College of Alameda. With a background in Radio & Television, with an emphasis in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Spanish, Johanna developed a passion for teaching English and supporting students from multicultural and diverse educational backgrounds.
For almost five years, Johanna has been teaching ESOL at the College of Alameda and has served as the Faculty Coordinator for the Learning Resources Center & Tutoring Services. In 2022, Johanna began working with ACCESO/Puente students, helping them navigate the college experience. Currently, She is the Faculty Coordinator at the ACCESO/Puente Center, where they are dedicated to creating an environment in which students feel safe, supported, and encouraged to share their culture.