Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruth Garcia
Hi Ruth, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the city of Maywood as the first of four siblings to attend college, and I was proud to be the first in my family to go to the University of California, Santa Cruz. Being a first-generation college student, I was always determined to give back to my community. After earning my bachelor’s degree, I returned home with the goal of supporting underserved students, particularly those with exceptionalities.
The desire to enter education came from the guidance and inspiration of remarkable educators I met throughout my journey. My curiosity about special education began early—seeing my peers segregated in school, and supporting a cousin with intellectual disabilities, made me question why some students didn’t have the same opportunities. Later, surrounding myself with my best friends family, particularly his nephew with autism, deepened my interest.
My first job after graduation as a 1:1 aide allowed me to witness firsthand the injustices and lack of resources faced by students in special education. This experience fueled my passion for the field, prompting me to pursue a graduate degree in School Psychology at National University. Inspired by my mentor, Cynthia Aguirre, a school psychologist, I realized the importance of advocacy and ensuring that every student gets the support they need.
I transitioned from 1:1 work to being a special education assistant, delivering RSP minutes across three school sites. During this time, I encountered systemic challenges such as insufficient resources and administrative support, which motivated me to seek a more impactful role. Thanks to the encouragement of my best friend, Alberto Barajas, I pursued an Education Specialist role and shifted my graduate focus to working with students with mild/moderate disabilities, earning credentials with an English Language Learner and Autism authorization.
Through regular reflection with my principal, who always pushed me to envision my future, I realized my long-term goal: opening a private educational practice. Unidos in Education LLC was born from my desire to outreach to more families, especially Spanish-speaking ones, to help them navigate special education law and advocate for their children’s rights.
I hope to one day transition Unidos in Education LLC into a non-profit organization to serve families on a larger scale. My mission is to bridge the gap between schools and outside supports, like the Regional Center, which provides additional services many families are unaware of.
The most valuable advice I’ve learned from my mentor, Dr. Charles Heaton, and now pass on to families is: “If it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen.” Documentation is essential to ensuring accountability and support for students, and I hope to continue educating families on how to effectively advocate for their children.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has definitely not been smooth sailing. It felt like an eternity to obtain my credentials, and becoming a licensed educator in California is no easy task. The process involves passing multiple assessments, each with its own subtests. Personally, I was never a great test taker, and growing up, I wasn’t taught how to study effectively or develop strong test-taking skills. This made the transition from high school to a four-year university challenging. I struggled academically my first year at UC Santa Cruz and even ended up on academic probation. That experience was a tough wake-up call, but it forced me to adapt and develop new skills through trial and error.
The same challenges resurfaced when I entered the credentialing program. External factors made passing the CBEST and CSET especially difficult, particularly as I was working full-time while also being a student. I never had the luxury of being just a student; throughout both my undergraduate and graduate programs, I always had to balance work and school. Once I cleared the CBEST and CSET, the RICA was less challenging, but if you ask me which assessment was the hardest, I’d say the CSET. My advice to aspiring educators is to take these tests as soon as possible—these exams aren’t designed for people of color or minorities to pass easily. Many of us don’t have access to the best educational resources, and these tests are structured to weed out those who struggle.
There’s also the EdTPA and a two-year induction program for clearing your teaching license. Although I didn’t have to complete the EdTPA, it’s now required for Education Specialists. It’s a lot of work that both parents and students often don’t realize goes into becoming an educator, and it’s easy to take those efforts for granted.
Starting my own business has also been a major challenge. As a first-time entrepreneur, I’ve had to do extensive research to understand the steps involved in opening my private practice. When you’re a sole proprietor, you wear a lot of hats—CEO, founder, lead educational therapist, HR, business manager, IT, marketing—you name it, I’m doing it all. It’s been a steep learning curve, but every challenge has pushed me to grow both personally and professionally.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Unidos in Education LLC is a comprehensive educational service provider offering a wide range of services, including tutoring, educational therapy, professional development, coaching, consulting, IEP meeting assistance, academic assessments, report writing, IEP and BIP creation, RTI, social-emotional supports, pre-vocational training, behavioral interventions (BII/BID), and parent workshops.
We specialize in educational therapy, which is what we’re best known for. Educational therapy provides intensive, individualized interventions for children and adults with learning disabilities and other learning differences. Our approach demystifies learning challenges, empowering clients to understand their strengths and use them to compensate for weaknesses. What sets us apart from traditional tutoring is that we take a holistic view of our clients, considering their social, emotional, psychoeducational, and neuropsychological profiles to create customized treatment plans. We work closely with parents, teachers, and other professionals to address not only academic difficulties but also the socio-emotional aspects of life-long learning.
Our services are available both in person and remotely via secure Zoom sessions. In-person services can be provided at our office in Whittier, CA, by appointment, or in-home. We proudly serve a wide range of communities including Maywood, South Gate, Downey, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and many more surrounding areas.
We are committed to collaborating with families, students, schools, and agencies to promote academic, social-emotional, and functional success, with the ultimate goal of fostering student independence. “Unidos” means “together” in Spanish, and this philosophy is at the core of what we do. We believe in working as equal partners to bring about positive change for students in marginalized communities. At Unidos in Education LLC, you have a dedicated team and thought partner advocating alongside you.
As a bilingual Latina-led private practice, we bring over nine years of experience serving students with exceptionalities. Our practice was founded to reach more students and families through inclusive and Universal Design for Learning practices. We are also connected with providers for speech therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, counseling, and more, ensuring a well-rounded support system for our clients.
We are especially proud of our media exposure this year, particularly being featured on KTLA5 Morning News for a special International Women’s Day segment with Unidos Community Events showcasing female entrepreneurs.
Our office is located in Uptown Whittier, above the Whittier Brewing Company inside the Nixon Plaza. We have two suites on the third floor. While your child receives services, you have the option to stay in our waiting room or enjoy some self-care—whether it’s grabbing a coffee, shopping, or exploring the local businesses nearby. Unidos in Education LLC is truly a place where the community comes together to support each other.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
For me, life is all about taking risks. You need to step out of your comfort zone to make magic happen. I’ve always been a risk-taker, especially within my family. I was the first to leave home and attend a four-year university straight out of high school, moving hours away from everything familiar. I was also the first in my family to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, and the first to lease a space for my own business.
Taking calculated risks has been a constant theme in my life, and those risks have led to some of my biggest accomplishments. For example, last year I embarked on my first solo trip to Greece, where I island-hopped for three weeks. It was a bold step, but it was an unforgettable experience that reminded me how empowering it can be to embrace uncertainty.
I believe that without taking risks, we miss out on growth, new experiences, and opportunities. Whether it’s starting my own business or traveling to different countries, I’ve learned that taking the leap often leads to the greatest rewards. Even when risks come with challenges, they’ve always taught me something valuable along the way.
Pricing:
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Educational Therapy – $150 per 50-minutes
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Tutoring – $100 for 1:1 per 50-minutes; $75 for small group per 50-minutes.
- IEP Meeting Assistance – $200 per hour
- Parent Workshops – $300 per hour (minimum of 10 participants)
- Free 15 minute consultation
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.unidosineducation.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unidosineducation?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
