Golden Oak welcomes new teachers

Second in a series of articles introducing Richland's new teachers to the community.

Veronica Garcia is one of two new teachers this year at Golden Oak Elementary School.

Garcia was born in Bakersfield, but she grew up in Shafter, attending Richland School District Schools and graduating from Shafter High School.

Garcia worked at Golden Oak Elementary for several years as an instructional aide. She graduated from Cal State Bakersfield with a degree in liberal studies. Garcia has been married to her husband, Danny, for 25 years and they have two children, Isabella, 20, and Ian, 15. They have two dogs and two cats.

In her spare time, she enjoys true crime podcasts, reading and traveling. Garcia also has a real passion for sloths. She said that she is excited to begin her position as a kindergarten teacher with the Eagles this year.

Leticia Orozco Torres will be teaching the first grade this school year at Golden Oak. She was born in Ensenada, Mexico, but was raised in the city of Shafter. She attended Richland schools and she said that she is beyond thrilled to be teaching at Golden Oak.

"I was the first person in our family to graduate from college. I graduated with a degree in liberal studies and a minor in criminal justice," Torres said,

She had two daughters, Emma, 8, and Emeri, 7 months old. Torres said that she loves to take her daughters to the zoo in her spare time. She also likes to go out to dinner and to do puzzles.

"I was raised by my parents, Irma and Juan, who were agricultural workers," she said, "They taught me the value of hard work and determination, making it possible for me to become the first college graduate in the family."