My name is Angelica Rodriguez, and I am thrilled to be a Guidance Counselor at Fernando R. Ledesma High School. I grew up right here in El Monte, attending Shirpser Elementary and Gidley Middle School, just like many of you. I graduated from Fernando R. Ledesma in 1996, and it feels amazing to return to the school that shaped my early years.

After high school, I pursued my passion for learning at Citrus Community College, and later, I transferred to Cal Poly Pomona, where I earned my B.A. in History. Education has always been important to me, so I continued my journey by obtaining my teaching credential and a Master’s in Education from Azusa Pacific University. I also earned my Pupil Personnel Service Credential and a Master’s in Counseling from Point Loma University.

I’ve been a part of this school community for many years, starting as a work-study student at just 14 years old. Working in the office and later teaching in Opportunity has shown me the impact we can have on each other's lives.

As someone who once sat in your seat, I want to remind you that your journey is just the beginning. Challenges will come, but with determination and hard work, you can achieve your dreams. Education is the key that opens doors, and I’m here to help you along the way.

Outside of school, I love spending time with my family and friends, attending sporting events, and traveling. I hope to inspire you to pursue your passions and make the most of your time here. Together, let’s create a positive and empowering environment where everyone can thrive.

Remember, your future is bright, and I believe in each and every one of you!

While at Ledesma I took integrated math with Ms. Vizcaino and Mr. Lenart which re-sparked my love for math and sciences. Before I came to Ledesma I felt completely discouraged from being able to graduate. Getting kicked out of Arroyo really knocked my confidence and I didn’t think I had what it took to pursue my dreams of being an Astronaut. However, a big reason for the change of heart was the teachers here at Ledesma who stepped in and motivated me to push myself harder. After leaving Ledesma, I majored in Business Administration and completed four years of schooling to obtain as many credits as possible before transferring to UCLA and majoring in Computer Science and Engineering. Thankfully, Mt. Sac offers a transfer pathway to UCLA through their honors program, which made it easier for me to build a community and better understand what a university pace would be like. While I did great at Mt. Sac I encountered my fair share of struggles adapting to a faster pace of coursework while still working full-time as a parent at Spacex. 

After my time at Spacex I went on to work for Marples Gears and  Aerospace companies where I did everything from CNC Lathe machining, Millwork, Auditing, and Quality Inspection. I’ve had the privilege of working with companies such as Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Boeing, and JPL. I am currently back in school for my second bachelor's degree from Embry-Riddle in Aerospace Engineering and plan to eventually open my own Aerospace company to hopefully design my own form of space travel.

I graduated from Fernando R Ledesma in June of 2024. My experience here was an emotional rollercoaster, but it took time for me to adapt and grow as a person and improve on my character. When I enlisted in the Marine Corps, I knew that was the first step in setting up for my future. I hope to pursue a career in Music Production and succeed in the world of entertainment. With the support of my family, friends, and having a Military background, I'm now confident for the next step of my life.

Damian is currently on active duty. When he returns we will reach out to Damian to provide a small bio on himself.

My name is Priscilla Buckhalter and I’m a proud graduate of Fernando R. Ledesma High School. Although when I attended, it was Valle Lindo High School to us. 

I grew up in El Monte and lived there until about 16 years old. Around this time I had gone from a straight A student to straight F’s. Growing up I was always academically at the top of my class, so this extreme change in my grades was a huge failure on me. It wasn’t until late middle school, early high school that I started having big problems. Things at home were changing, things I had no control over. That is when I was transferred to Valley Lindo. I felt so lost and like a huge disappointment.

I’ll never forget the day that my new math teacher, Mr. Lenart, pulled me to the side to ask me what happened. Only a few days in this new school and he had already taken a look at my school records. He notified me that he spoke to my counselor and added me to his graphic arts class. I had no idea what this subject was and how it would impact my life to this very day. Thanks to this class, I learned Photoshop and operated a professional camera for the first time. My grades started going up, and I continued my graphic arts class every semester until I graduated. I fell in love with Photoshop and being able to create. I’ve always been creative and artistic and this gave me the space to do it. I graduated the Yearbook Editor and Chief, and as the Graduating Class Representative of 04’.

After high school, life comes to you fast! I had to take control and responsibility for my life and this meant working so I could provide for myself. I went from job to job and worked my way to a stable position as a self storage manger in my late 20’s. This was also the time I met my better half. After falling head over heals for him we married in 2016. We have 2 AMAZING boys now. They are my world and my drive. On my youngest’s first birthday I hired a photographer to capture this milestone. We took pictures at a park and out of the conversation I was having with the photographer, a light bulb turned on. She was a stay at home mom (now, so was I) and she did this on the weekends, part time. As much as I love being a wife and mom, I felt something missing.

In 2019 my husband bought me a Canon Rebel T7 and encouraged me to pursue photography as a hobby, something just for me. I pursued it and ran with it! I turned what started as a hobby, into a career. My business, Timeless Photography by Priscilla has grown significantly in the past 5 years. With the help of my family, I converted our 3 car garage into my own photography studio. I have accumulated plenty of studio equipment, props and wardrobe within this time. I also upgraded my camera to a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. Photography has become my place to be creative and artistic. I now specialize in Maternity, Newborn, Family, and Milestone photography. I have taken workshops with some incredible photographers to learn more and continue to grow. I use Photoshop on every photo I edit, (who would have thought). I know that my photography business is successful in huge part to my knowledge of Photoshop, a program that was introduced to me more than 20 years ago.

As my business has grown, so have my dreams. My goal is to open up a store front photography studio within the next 5 years. I love what I do, and what it means to my clients. To be able to capture so many special moments for families is absolutely fulfilling. I would also love to offer mentoring to photographers in the future. I see myself traveling with my family and offering workshops to teach photography and editing in Photoshop. I turned what Mr. Lenart introduced me to, into the key part of my business. I must admit, I remember when I started his graphic arts class, I was not happy. It was challenging and different, but I stuck to it. I grew to love it! I’m forever thankful and grateful for Mr. Lenart and the staff at Fernando R Ledesma. They went above and beyond their teaching duties and helped me succeed!

Priscilla's Website

Hello. My name is Lily Martinez Lomeli, class of '05. I came to FRL AKA Valle Lindo as a 14-year-old pregnant teen. I began in independent studies and decided FRL was the place for me. The staff and administration here provided all the support, understanding, and guidance I needed. They saw the potential I could never imagined I had. I graduated being a single mom of 2. Thankfully, the staff and Administration at FRL pushed me to pursue higher education. It was a struggle to get back to school due to having to support my children plus other life obstacles. Eventually, I obtained my AA in Administration of Justice from Rio Hondo College in 2012. I went on to obtain my Bachelor's of Arts in Social Work from  Cal State LA in 2016. Finally, I obtained a Masters of Arts in Social Work from Azusa Pacific University in 2020. I am now a Children's Social Worker with Los Angeles County. I am also working on becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. The support FRL gave me inspired me to be a person willing to give back and see the potential in everyone.