While attending Title I public schools just miles north of the San Diego-Tijuana border, Sofía knew she would go to college, but as a First Generation student, she did not know how to get there. While in college, Sofía learned about deeply embedded systemic inequities contributing to a low representation of students of color and low-income students enrolled at institutions of higher education. After earning her Ph.D., Sofía sought to better understand the world of practice by becoming an educator. She became interested in systems change and transitioned to continuous improvement facilitation to have a broader impact.
Dr. Tannenhaus serves as the Director of the CARPE Collaborative, a college access network of over 20 high schools throughout Southern California. Sofía engages site-based practitioners and administrators & district leaders in continuous improvement efforts to improve college access for students furthest from opportunity, support the systematic use of data, and ensure vertical alignment and sustainability. She also co-leads professional development for Spanish teachers across the High Tech High organization.
In an effort to give back to the next generation of changemakers, Sofía founded a non-profit organization, the Just4Dust Foundation. Just4Dust supports low-income student athletes on their path to college through academic scholarships.
Dr. Tannenhaus holds a preliminary administrative credential and a clear single subject teaching credential in Spanish. She earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Education from UC Berkeley and her B.A. in Sociology from UC San Diego. And she earned her most important title in 2020: Mom.
