Bio
Sara-Jean, or “SJ,” Lipmen an educator and native Los Angeleno with roots in Mexico and Guatemala. She has had the opportunity to work in a diversity of environments of both informal and formal education. She has taught, run programs, directed schools, supervised educators, led professional development, created curricula, and worked with students, at all stages of life, in a variety of socio-economic backgrounds, all over the world including; Los Angeles, DC, rural China, London, Bermuda, Jerusalem & Mexico City. She received her BA in Educational Understanding of Religion & Government from the American University in Washington DC, her MA in Education and Teaching Credentials in Secondary Education History, Secondary Education Spanish, Elementary School, and BCLAD from Pepperdine University, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a focus on Teacher Education in Multicultural Societies from USC. She also has in-depth training in group dynamics in the Tavistock tradition, which she has taught and applied to work with both adults and teens. In 2005, she received Congressional Recognition (USA) for Excellence in Student Teaching, and in 2008, she was awarded National Recognition (UK) at Masuot Awards for most innovative youth work. Most recently, in 2021, she completed her Diploma in Psychological First Aid for Migrants, Refugees, and Displaced Persons. She loves being the Newcomer Instructional Coach at Bernstein; creating professional development for educators and teachers around supporting, teaching, and advocating for students who are recent immigrants and for those inspirational students. She is also honored to be an adjunct professor of Curriculum and Pedagogy at USC. SJ believes in student-led education, using their own experiences and realities, to create a learning environment in which everyone is valued, knowledge and skills are co-created, and students work towards a more just and equitable future for all. She lives with her partner and is proudly raising their four beautiful children in the LA urban jungle.
