As students enter Mudd Pit for aftercare, they’re almost always greeted by a familiar face—the Child Educational Center (CEC) Middle School Aftercare Lead Teacher, Loretta Choi, known just as “Loretta” to students. Standing in her stylish outfits and striking eyeshadow, she greets each middle schooler as they sign in for aftercare. After an exhausting day of labs, tests, and lectures, she offers a welcoming presence to students.

Loretta Choi is the main CEC teacher for the Middle School. She has worked at Westridge for 16 years, first with the Lower School, but then moving on to work with middle schoolers. “I liked how respectful the girls were and how the school’s philosophy is so grounded in my philosophy and what I believe with girls and how we should be uplifted in society. It’s really great to see everybody be empowered and know who they are,” Loretta said. “I think the opportunities here are amazing for the girls.”

Loretta has a lot of knowledge in many subjects from the many things she’s learned, which she adds to the aftercare clubs and curriculum. She’s taken classes in architecture, jewelry-making, and even theater. She draws from her own experiences when designing clubs for the middle schoolers to participate in, considering what she enjoyed at that age with activities like various crafts, experiments, and cooking lessons.

However, teaching clubs isn’t the only part of her job. Loretta’s also a friend, somebody students can talk to and chat with about their day, their hobbies, or anything else. “My favorite thing about working here is my relationships with all the girls and their families, watching everyone grow,” she said, thinking back to past relationships with growing girls. “It’s really important for me to have these relationships with the families.” 

These relationships are also felt by the middle schoolers she works with. “She’s always really nice and always has a smile on her face…she’s just so motherly,” says Laurel J. ’31, appreciating Loretta’s joyful manner and kind nature.   

Loretta has a lot of experience in different subjects, and she has an impressive story behind her as well. Her mother owned a sewing company, and her grandfather was a chef, giving Loretta windows into the worlds of the culinary and fashion industries. Today, her family is in the beauty industry and furniture industry, which also inspires her to bring her background and talents to the aftercare program. 

Growing up, she enjoyed roles behind the scenes: planning out themes, parties, and food. “I think planning events, these celebrations we have, like our Hot Chocolate Social and things like that, that’s really who I am,” she said.

When Loretta isn’t managing Middle School aftercare, she loves makeup, styling hair, and fashion design, things that she’s picked up over the years that she showcases through the many events that Westridge middle schoolers get to experience. “In Middle School, you really get to know who you are and what you like,” Loretta said. “I think it’s important for you to explore and try new things, and that’s what I try to do with the curriculum here: expose you guys to things you haven’t been exposed to.”

In many ways, working for the Middle School aftercare program has been a chance for Loretta to feel like she was coming back to Middle School as a student. When she plans the curriculum, she always thinks about what made her happy during her student life. “It’s so magical to be working with kids,” she said.