Cover Story

Kelli Zepeda, a former senior from Mater Dei High School, was one of our “Shining Students” in 2000.

Where is she now? The young humanitarian is now Mrs. Kelli Zepeda-Kruis. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jason, and works as an adapted physical education teacher at Widney High School. OC Family Magazine recently caught up with Kelli.

OCF: Where did you go to college?
Zepeda-Kruis: I went to Westmont College in Santa Barbara and majored in kinesiology.

OCF: What did you participate in while at Westmont?
Zepeda-Kruis: I studied abroad in Guatemala and helped start a special education school. I even wrote some of the curriculum.

OCF: What did you do after graduation?
Zepeda-Kruis: I graduated in 3 years and went to work for the Santa Barbara school district. I had NO idea what I was doing! I worked as an adapted P.E. teacher and fell in love. Then I started my master’s and credential programs.

OCF: Are you still working as an adapted P.E. teacher?
Zepeda-Kruis: Yes. I work for Widney High School in Los Angeles. All the students have special needs, as opposed to most high schools, where special-needs students are incorporated.

OCF: You sure have kept busy.
Zepeda-Kruis: (Laugh) That’s not all I’ve been doing! My principal and I just got approved for $50,000 and $100,000 grants to build a new fitness center. And my husband and I are helping start a special-needs school and therapy program in Mexicali. We just broke ground. I also speak at conferences about adapted P.E. fam

Kathleen Crain is a staff writer for OC Family magazine.