Ruth Gay is an educator and has worked in the California Community College system for the last 27 years. She currently teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) at MiraCosta Community College in Oceanside, California. Before starting at MiraCosta, Ruth taught at two universities and three other community colleges in the central and southern California area. The mission of the California Community College system – provide students with the knowledge and background necessary to compete in today’s economy – resonates with her, and she strives to make this possible for her students, most of whom are newcomers to the USA. As an immigrant from the Caribbean island of Trinidad, Ruth often sees herself and her family mirrored in her students’ experiences as they adapt to life in their new country. She has predominantly worked with adults, but her students often share stories of their children’s lives as new immigrants in the US public school system. These stories usually send Ruth searching for resources that could guide her students in helping their children better adapt to life in the US while also maintaining their cultural identities. Fostering a sense of belonging in her students and their families is Ruth’s passion, and she regularly works towards this goal.

Ruth enjoys traveling in her free time, and she recently had the privilege of sharing the Junga books with children in Grenada and Rwanda.