Jesus Rojas

Mr. Rojas was raised on a small fish farm in the Philippines with his five siblings, where he developed a hands-on work ethic and a deep curiosity about how people and systems grow. After immigrating to the U.S. at age 12, the classroom became a place of stability and belonging. He began his undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering at UC Berkeley but later transferred to UC Davis to study Psychology, focusing on perception, memory, and the molecular basis of behavior.

While preparing for medical school, he found his most meaningful hours were spent guiding middle school students as they explored the connections between science and their daily lives. He let go of the path he thought he should follow and stepped fully into what had always come naturally: teaching. He earned a master’s degree in science curriculum and instruction from Stanford University and has spent over a decade teaching science in public, private, and charter middle schools.

Mr. Rojas is currently pursuing a second master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania, where he focuses on preparing science educators and designing developmentally appropriate assessments for and of learning. Outside of Stanford OHS, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, eating green apples, and taking well-earned afternoon naps.