Educational Background:
BA in Communications with a minor in Spanish from CSU Chico. Go
Wildcats!
Multiple Subjects Credential: CSU Chico
National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Language Arts:
November, 2003.
Every day in the River School classroom.
Personal Information:
I am the best dancer (and singer) at River School. I have been
perfecting my craft for a lifetime. I am always willing to share my
knowledge and skills on the dance floor with others. My students beg for
me to sing to them on their birthday and I usually oblige. Other then
the above mentioned, I like to do just about anything outside. I am a
lover of books, music, and all things Brazilian. Oh yes, I love going
out to eat and eating in—especially if I am not cooking. I live with my
partner in Petaluma and we have two cats—Preto and Rhoda…don’t ask.
Subjects Taught at River:
I teach Language Arts, Social Studies, and Advisory (the most important
class).
Teaching Experience
I spent the first year of my teaching career in Japan pretending to
impart my knowledge of English to four and five year olds. It was an
invaluable experience to live within a culture where I was completely
illiterate and unable to communicate. I then taught in Union City,
Winters, and an International school in Brazil. Over the course of three
years in Brazil, I taught Language Arts, Social Studies, Journalism,
Drama, and Music. Oh yes, and Dance (just kidding). From Brazil, I moved
to Boston and worked as an Educational Consultant before landing at the
River School. After a number of years at River School, I had a great
experience for two years teaching and supervising credential candidates
at Humboldt State University as a Distinguished Teacher in Residence. I
am now working at the River School full time and perusing my master’s
degree in Education at Sonoma State.
What is important to you in education?
Helping students figure out who they are and who and how they want to be
in the world.
What defines the River School in you?
An ongoing process of living, learning, making mistakes, and being real
with students. I do believe “We teach who we are.” It is so simple, yet
so challenging.