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EDUCATION Pacific Lutheran University -B.A. in English Literature -Minor in Religion -Concentration in Communication & Graphic Design University of Southern California -Masters of Arts in Teaching: Single Subject English University of California, Los Angeles -coursework for Multiple Subject Credential Fresno Pacific University -CUE Innovative Educator -Leading Edge Online and Blended Teacher -ECE coursework Lake Tahoe Community College -ECE coursework Concordia University Irvine -MAED Early Childhood |
ABOUT THE TEACH
What is your first name?
Mrs.
What is your birthday?
Every year.
How many years have you been teaching?
This is a hard question to answer with a definite number. I am currently in my 6th year of teaching TK at Tahoe Valley Elementary, I previously taught in my own classroom at STMS for 8 years, and I student taught and long-term subbed at STMS for 2 years before that. However, I have been teaching in different aspects and helping my entire extended family in their classrooms since I was six-years-old.
What inspired you to teach Language arts?
While my inspiration to teach came from my mother, my inspiration to teach language arts was thanks to my high school English teacher, Ms. Blaney. Blaney taught me how to read text beyond the surface level to find hidden meanings in the stories. I fell in love with dissecting stories and that love continued to develop in college. I took literature courses in British Literature, Women's Literature, Modern American Literature, Chaucer, Shakespeare (my favorite), and eventually wrote my senior capstone on the Bloomsbury Group and the literary techniques of Virginia Woolf.
What inspired you to transition from teaching middle school to TK?
While I genuinely enjoyed my time teaching at the middle school, my passion area of education is TK-1st grades. My entire extended family were preschool directors and K-1 teachers so I grew up helping in their classrooms every year and experiencing that realm of education. I've always said 8th graders are really just kindergarteners in bigger bodies and it was true. However, I fell in love with helping littles and I am thrilled that I finally ended up where I always dreamed to teach.
If you weren't a teacher, what career would you choose?
Deep down I have always wanted to be a teacher. However, when I was in college I further developed my love of writing fiction and poetry. Tie that together with my passion for reading, and my love of the Golden '20s in Paris, and you have my alternative career passions—a fiction author or a book editor.
What are your favorite sports?
NFL Football (Seahawks), Rugby (Hurricanes and All Blacks), College Football (USC), NHL Hockey (Kraken), MotoGP Motorcycle Racing (Team Honda). Although, I also love dance, Ultimate Frisbee, slacklining, and skiing as well.
Did you try out for any sports in high school?
In high school, I tried out for the Viking Dance Team and was on the squad for 3 years.
What activities do you like to do?
I love dance! I started dancing at the age of 2, and have studied tap, jazz, clogging, Irish, partnering, lyrical, ballet, ballroom, and line dancing. Yes, I am a Shining Star (look for my picture in the studio hallway.) I enjoy crochet (crow-shay) and frequently make large blankets. Another passion is photography and graphic design, and I have designed pamphlets and handbooks for various organizations in Tahoe, as well as shirts for my college dorm and STMS AVID. With the advances in technology I have also recently been introduced to 3D Printing and enjoy helping my family with that hobby.
Do you play any musical instruments?
I play piano, flute, alto sax, and a little percussion, clarinet, and baritone.
Do you like to travel?
I grew up in a family that loved to travel. Our family trips included road trips across the western and central states, camping trips to Yellowstone and various cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, and Hawaiian Islands.
Personal traveling has taken me farther than I ever imagined. I spent a week in Washington D.C. with a backstage pass of sorts that granted me access to the Pentagon, the House and Senate buildings, the White House, and various other government buildings. I also spent 17 days traveling through Europe with 40 students and my high school senior English teacher visiting Great Britain, France, Switzerland, and Italy.
The greatest adventure of my life occurred in January 2008, when I fulfilled a childhood dream and traveled to Antarctica. Seriously! Having actually visited the bottom of the world my new goal is to travel to the remaining three continents (Africa, Asia, and Australia). Check out the Expedition Website, to see the full account of her trip to Antarctica.
What is your favorite vacation that you have taken?
My favorite trip was definitely my adventure in Antarctica, however since that was through a college class I don't know that it qualifies as a true vacation.
Have you lived in Tahoe your entire life?
My family moved to Lake Tahoe when I was six. I lived in Washington for 7 years in college, but then moved back to Tahoe. That is fairly close to my entire life.
If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
Disneyland. Or New Zealand. Or Italy. Definitely Monterey.
What is your favorite type of weather?
I do not have one favorite type of weather, I rather have things I like about the atmosphere of different weather events. I love it when it snows lightly in the morning when the sun has not yet risen above the mountain, and everything is covered in a light blue hue. I love a heavy rain downpour in the fall that makes the basin smell fresh. I love summer evenings when there is a light breeze, and the sun is just about to touch the mountains, but the warmth of the day has not left yet. Tahoe is a very special place to be to experience weather.
What is your biggest fear?
My biggest fear is a tie between two things. 1) Dying before I've had a chance to say goodbye to those I love, and 2) Losing the ability to see the "good" things in life.
Besides english do you speak any other languages?
Si, hablo un poco de Espanol.
What is your favorite book?
My other passion besides teaching is reading. I read books from all genres and countries, so it is hard for me to pick one favorite. My top favorite books are the Harry Potter Series, by J.K. Rowling, Legend Series, by Marie Lu, Divergent Series, by Veronica Roth, Caraval Series, by Stephanie Garber, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, Timeline, by Michael Crichton, Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, The Price of Freedom, by A.C. Crispin, and Everything written by Robert Munsch. Make sure you check out the Book Recommendations pages for other favorites.
On a scale of 1-10, how much do you love reading books?
13.
What is your favorite animal?
A Platypus, because it is an animal that defies all of the norms and labels set upon animals. It is one of five egg-laying mammals, it is semiaquatic, it has a duck bill, beaver tail, otter feet, and it's venomous. Seriously... how cool is that?
Who are your heroes and inspirations?
My college friend, 1st Lt. Brian Bradshaw, who was killed in action in Afghanistan. He taught me to not take life too seriously, and to always help out those less fortunate than myself.
Walt Disney, from whom I learned the power of imagination and a child-like happiness.
My dad, who has the best listening ear I know and is the best at helping me examine problems from a new perspective. He also has instilled in me a love of rhythm and music which drives my life.
Mrs. Grubbs, a teacher, principal, and life-long mentor, who taught me it's okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. She also taught me to always try my hardest in everything I do, even if something doesn't turn out perfect.
My grandfather, who was education admin for most of his life. He has been another life-long mentor for my own life in education, and guides me in all aspects of leadership and how to communicate with people through the swinging pendulum of education. He also attended USC so we have Trojan Football at our foundation.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, as an action movie star at the heart of my meet-cute with my husband, as a health and fitness guide, and most importantly as a leadership role model for kindness and working with everyone to compromise for a common goal. I try to emulate Arnold and my grandfather's skills in responding to opposition in direct and thought-provoking ways to teach lessons.
Do you have a life motto?
I, in fact, have two life mottos. "Make today so awesome that yesterday gets jealous" and "Smile, it makes your butt tingle." The first is meant to remind me to life every day to the fullest and never wait for "tomorrow" to do something amazing. The second has always served its purpose in getting anyone to smile due to its randomness.
Do you miss your old students?
Without a doubt! (Especially Ananda, Elizabeth, and Troy. See, I do look at your questions).
I also miss my Mermaid and Pecan Clan.
Mrs.
What is your birthday?
Every year.
How many years have you been teaching?
This is a hard question to answer with a definite number. I am currently in my 6th year of teaching TK at Tahoe Valley Elementary, I previously taught in my own classroom at STMS for 8 years, and I student taught and long-term subbed at STMS for 2 years before that. However, I have been teaching in different aspects and helping my entire extended family in their classrooms since I was six-years-old.
What inspired you to teach Language arts?
While my inspiration to teach came from my mother, my inspiration to teach language arts was thanks to my high school English teacher, Ms. Blaney. Blaney taught me how to read text beyond the surface level to find hidden meanings in the stories. I fell in love with dissecting stories and that love continued to develop in college. I took literature courses in British Literature, Women's Literature, Modern American Literature, Chaucer, Shakespeare (my favorite), and eventually wrote my senior capstone on the Bloomsbury Group and the literary techniques of Virginia Woolf.
What inspired you to transition from teaching middle school to TK?
While I genuinely enjoyed my time teaching at the middle school, my passion area of education is TK-1st grades. My entire extended family were preschool directors and K-1 teachers so I grew up helping in their classrooms every year and experiencing that realm of education. I've always said 8th graders are really just kindergarteners in bigger bodies and it was true. However, I fell in love with helping littles and I am thrilled that I finally ended up where I always dreamed to teach.
If you weren't a teacher, what career would you choose?
Deep down I have always wanted to be a teacher. However, when I was in college I further developed my love of writing fiction and poetry. Tie that together with my passion for reading, and my love of the Golden '20s in Paris, and you have my alternative career passions—a fiction author or a book editor.
What are your favorite sports?
NFL Football (Seahawks), Rugby (Hurricanes and All Blacks), College Football (USC), NHL Hockey (Kraken), MotoGP Motorcycle Racing (Team Honda). Although, I also love dance, Ultimate Frisbee, slacklining, and skiing as well.
Did you try out for any sports in high school?
In high school, I tried out for the Viking Dance Team and was on the squad for 3 years.
What activities do you like to do?
I love dance! I started dancing at the age of 2, and have studied tap, jazz, clogging, Irish, partnering, lyrical, ballet, ballroom, and line dancing. Yes, I am a Shining Star (look for my picture in the studio hallway.) I enjoy crochet (crow-shay) and frequently make large blankets. Another passion is photography and graphic design, and I have designed pamphlets and handbooks for various organizations in Tahoe, as well as shirts for my college dorm and STMS AVID. With the advances in technology I have also recently been introduced to 3D Printing and enjoy helping my family with that hobby.
Do you play any musical instruments?
I play piano, flute, alto sax, and a little percussion, clarinet, and baritone.
Do you like to travel?
I grew up in a family that loved to travel. Our family trips included road trips across the western and central states, camping trips to Yellowstone and various cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, and Hawaiian Islands.
Personal traveling has taken me farther than I ever imagined. I spent a week in Washington D.C. with a backstage pass of sorts that granted me access to the Pentagon, the House and Senate buildings, the White House, and various other government buildings. I also spent 17 days traveling through Europe with 40 students and my high school senior English teacher visiting Great Britain, France, Switzerland, and Italy.
The greatest adventure of my life occurred in January 2008, when I fulfilled a childhood dream and traveled to Antarctica. Seriously! Having actually visited the bottom of the world my new goal is to travel to the remaining three continents (Africa, Asia, and Australia). Check out the Expedition Website, to see the full account of her trip to Antarctica.
What is your favorite vacation that you have taken?
My favorite trip was definitely my adventure in Antarctica, however since that was through a college class I don't know that it qualifies as a true vacation.
Have you lived in Tahoe your entire life?
My family moved to Lake Tahoe when I was six. I lived in Washington for 7 years in college, but then moved back to Tahoe. That is fairly close to my entire life.
If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
Disneyland. Or New Zealand. Or Italy. Definitely Monterey.
What is your favorite type of weather?
I do not have one favorite type of weather, I rather have things I like about the atmosphere of different weather events. I love it when it snows lightly in the morning when the sun has not yet risen above the mountain, and everything is covered in a light blue hue. I love a heavy rain downpour in the fall that makes the basin smell fresh. I love summer evenings when there is a light breeze, and the sun is just about to touch the mountains, but the warmth of the day has not left yet. Tahoe is a very special place to be to experience weather.
What is your biggest fear?
My biggest fear is a tie between two things. 1) Dying before I've had a chance to say goodbye to those I love, and 2) Losing the ability to see the "good" things in life.
Besides english do you speak any other languages?
Si, hablo un poco de Espanol.
What is your favorite book?
My other passion besides teaching is reading. I read books from all genres and countries, so it is hard for me to pick one favorite. My top favorite books are the Harry Potter Series, by J.K. Rowling, Legend Series, by Marie Lu, Divergent Series, by Veronica Roth, Caraval Series, by Stephanie Garber, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, Timeline, by Michael Crichton, Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, The Price of Freedom, by A.C. Crispin, and Everything written by Robert Munsch. Make sure you check out the Book Recommendations pages for other favorites.
On a scale of 1-10, how much do you love reading books?
13.
What is your favorite animal?
A Platypus, because it is an animal that defies all of the norms and labels set upon animals. It is one of five egg-laying mammals, it is semiaquatic, it has a duck bill, beaver tail, otter feet, and it's venomous. Seriously... how cool is that?
Who are your heroes and inspirations?
My college friend, 1st Lt. Brian Bradshaw, who was killed in action in Afghanistan. He taught me to not take life too seriously, and to always help out those less fortunate than myself.
Walt Disney, from whom I learned the power of imagination and a child-like happiness.
My dad, who has the best listening ear I know and is the best at helping me examine problems from a new perspective. He also has instilled in me a love of rhythm and music which drives my life.
Mrs. Grubbs, a teacher, principal, and life-long mentor, who taught me it's okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. She also taught me to always try my hardest in everything I do, even if something doesn't turn out perfect.
My grandfather, who was education admin for most of his life. He has been another life-long mentor for my own life in education, and guides me in all aspects of leadership and how to communicate with people through the swinging pendulum of education. He also attended USC so we have Trojan Football at our foundation.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, as an action movie star at the heart of my meet-cute with my husband, as a health and fitness guide, and most importantly as a leadership role model for kindness and working with everyone to compromise for a common goal. I try to emulate Arnold and my grandfather's skills in responding to opposition in direct and thought-provoking ways to teach lessons.
Do you have a life motto?
I, in fact, have two life mottos. "Make today so awesome that yesterday gets jealous" and "Smile, it makes your butt tingle." The first is meant to remind me to life every day to the fullest and never wait for "tomorrow" to do something amazing. The second has always served its purpose in getting anyone to smile due to its randomness.
Do you miss your old students?
Without a doubt! (Especially Ananda, Elizabeth, and Troy. See, I do look at your questions).
I also miss my Mermaid and Pecan Clan.
