10 Minutes With Tipton: Adult School director Larriann Torrez

10 Minutes with Tipton: Interview with Dr. Larriann Torrez

About the Interview

10 Minutes with Tipton originated in January 2022 on the Education Page. Students in the After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program at Tipton Elementary School take time to Zoom with individuals in the community to ask them questions about their jobs, lives, and strategies they can use in their own lives to help them become college and career-ready.

Interview with Dr. Larriann Torrez

What is your job title/role in our community?

• I am the Director of Porterville Adult School which is part of the Porterville Unified School District.
• I also serve on the Board of the Porterville Chamber of Commerce.
• I serve as the Vice President of Membership for the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Tulare Charter.
• I serve as the Adult Education representative for the Tulare County Hispanic Leadership Network.
• I serve on the Kern Adult Education Consortium Executive Committee.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself – Your background, where you grew up, your family and your career.

• I was born and raised in Porterville, California.
• I attended West Putnam Elementary, Pioneer Middle School, and Monache High School.
• I earned a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Brandman University in 2018.
• I completed my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at Fresno Pacific University, including a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Organizational Leadership and a Master of Arts in Education and Administration Services.

Can you tell us what you do every day at your job?

• Before the day starts, I check the Frontline system to see if any staff are going to be absent.
• If there are any absences, I find a substitute to ensure that classes have coverage for the day.
• I check in with my front office team to make sure that everything is running smoothly and they have everything they need.
• I walk around the classrooms and check in with teachers and greet students.
• Most days I have a lot of meetings, both within and outside of the district.

What do you love about your career? What do you dislike about your career?

• I love Adult Ed and the opportunity to give adults another chance to change their lives.
• One of the things I love about Adult Ed is seeing adults complete what they set their mind to.
• There is nothing I dislike about my career. I have been working in Adult Education since 1994 and have been involved at various levels of leadership.

Would you encourage others to pursue your career?

• Absolutely! I always encourage individuals to pursue a career in education, especially if they love the work we do.
• I recommend furthering education, getting involved in organizations, and seeking leadership opportunities.

What is something that might surprise members of the public (either about you, or your career)?

• One thing that might surprise individuals is that there are discipline issues in adult education.
• We set high expectations for adults as we prepare them for college or a career.

What advice do you have for young people who might be pursuing your line of work?

• If you want to become a principal, I recommend shadowing your principal for a day and staying connected throughout your education.
• Join leadership groups and organizations related to education.
• Continue your education and stay connected to others in the field.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

• In less than 10 years, I hope to be retired but still connected to education.

Anything else you would like to add? What are some projects you are proud of?

• Our theme this year at Porterville Adult School is ‘Unlocking New Doors in 2024’.
• We have a tradition where every graduate gets to put a lock on our graduate fence.
• Students can see the locks on the fence and as the year goes on, it gets filled up with locks.
• We take the fence and its locks to the auditorium at graduation and take pictures with the graduates.
• So far, we have had three graduates since August (interview conducted in early October).

Interview conducted with Wendy and Valeria, seventh-grade students at Tipton Elementary School.

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