Mentor Teacher
School of Education
June 1, 2012
“From my students, I have learned that I am not the only teacher in the classroom!”
One person can make a difference – this belief ultimately led me to become a teacher. Before teaching, I was heavily involved in community service. Volunteering in my children’s classrooms and serving three terms as a PTA president inspired me to become a teacher. As a teacher, I continue to try to make a difference not only with my own students, but also with other teachers as well.
During the past twenty years, I have had the pleasure of teaching first and second grade as well as second/third grade combination classes. In addition to serving on leadership teams at my school site, I am a mentor teacher for UCI teacher candidates. Working with student teachers from UCI is an incredibly rewarding experience. Their enthusiasm for teaching and student learning as well as their knowledge of “best practices” helps reignite my own passion for teaching. My classroom is also open to student teachers as well as colleagues for demonstration lessons in mathematics.
At the district level presenter in the areas of science and writing, I have the opportunity to work with teachers and extend my own learning. I have also served on several long-standing committees. When I worked for four years with a team of administrators and teachers, we designed and implemented a standards-based report card for the elementary schools in our district. While I served on the district’s Writing Cadre, we drafted and published grade level specific writing rubrics and anchor papers for grades K-5. Supporting the development of curriculum at the district level enables me to continue to learn research-based, best instructional practices. It also allows me to contribute to the learning of teachers, as well as students.
When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. My husband and I have a son, a daughter, and two beautiful granddaughters. During the summer months, I spend my free time catching up with my personal life, reading, traveling, and, of course, planning instruction for the new school year. My all time favorite sport is football and I am a true Chargers fanatic! Shopping is another favorite sport – you can get a lot of exercise running from one sale to the next! But my absolute favorite thing to do is visit my grandchildren in the Bay Area as often as possible.
As a teacher, I have come to realize that some of the most amazing teachers I encounter are my own students. Their innate curiosity, their questions, and their unique perspective continually challenge me to listen carefully and to see the world through their eyes. From them, I have learned that I am not the only teacher in the classroom!