Shortly after college graduation, Irene started teaching at Sunshine Preschool where she found her love for watching children learn and grow during their early stages of life.  She then moved on to teaching 1st grade at a private school in Los Feliz in Los Angeles for 5 years.  Upon receiving her masters, she began teaching math and science at the junior high and high school level for 10 years while continuing to teach kindergarten in the summertime for a year-round school.   Irene was very active as a full-time teacher; moderating student council and the academic decathlon team, coaching volleyball, and implementing a new science and theater program at each school.