Aynesworth Elementary School .

She wrote and illustrated her first full-length children ’ s book , “ Taylor the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Making

Friends ,” in Paula Welch ’ s class , who then let her read it to her classmates . At the end of the school year , Welch had a tradition of writing predictions for her sixth graders as they moved on to middle school , predicting that Brown-Wood would be a “ best-selling author .”

When Brown-Wood ’ s first book was published in 2014 , Welch attended the book launch at Barnes and Noble in Fresno .

“ Her encouragement meant so much to me then , and still means so much to me now ,” Brown-Wood said .

Brown-Wood graduated from Sunnyside High School in 2003 , earned her bachelor ’ s degree from UCLA , her master ’ s degree from California State University , Sacramento and her doctorate in education from the University of California at Davis . Recognition of her work includes the National Association of Elementary School Principals Children ’ s Book of the Year Award for her first book , “ Imani ’ s Moon .”

Brown-Wood is married to her high school sweetheart , Catrayel Wood , who is a budget and policy manager and running for the San Juan Unified School Board .

In October , Sunnyside High hosted Brown-Wood at two