Corona Norco Unified School District
Home Gardens Academy
7th and 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher
Middle School Team Leader
Language Arts Department Chair
In 1978, as a fifth grade student, I reluctantly approached Mrs. Black (I was tremendously shy) and asked what I was supposed to do, because I was finished with my work. Mrs. Black, in what seemed like a grandmotherly way at the time, led me to her cupboard of books. Getting a glimpse inside a teacher's forbidden cupboards seemed magical. They haphazard stack of books, cardboard boxes, and glitter cast a spell on me. "I think I have something special here for you, because you're such a good reader," said Mrs. Black. With her outstretched hand she handed me a copy of A Wrinkle in Time. I took the book as if it were the most valuable trove in the history of gifts. I practically cradled like a baby as I proudly walked back to my desk. Perhaps she was just finding a way to get me back to my seat, but I was made to feel special. I eagerly read that book written especially for me. Don't tell Mrs. Black, but I did not care for that book at all. However, that is the moment where teaching chose me. I teach for the love of knowledge and the prospect of building a brighter future. Most of all, I teach, because someone made me feel special and I want to pass it on.
I have been teaching in the Corona-Norco Unified School District for sixteen years. I have taught 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 4/5 combos, 5/6 combos, 7th grade Language Arts, 8th grade History, and 8th grade language arts. It is my variety of teaching assignments that has strengthened my practice. The multiple perspectives allows me to approach problems in a variety of ways. You could say that my experiences have filled my tool belt.
In 2007 I was given the honor of being chosen as Home Gardens Elementary Teacher of the Year. Being selected by my peers was not something I took lightly, even if some people said that it's just a popularity contest. I wanted to let people know that I was just one teacher at a school that was filled with amazing teachers. So, I wanted to represent my school well at the district level. Later that same year I was selected as the Corona-Norco Unified School District Teacher of the Year. Winning these awards, and all the preparations involved in the process, allowed me to reflect on where I was as a professional and where I felt the profession was headed. I have continued with these reflections throughout my career.
It is through continuous reflection and the same inspiration that brought me to teaching that I approach my work in the Teacher Leader Certification Academy. Two of my classes have a large number of resource students in them. Upon reviewing assessment data, I realized that my resource students were not achieving at the level I know they are capable of. It was also evident that I work with a tremendously talented resource specialist, but I was not utilizing her talents. It then occurred to me that if she could review my plan book, she could give the resource students the kind of support they needed. However, finding time to collaborate in our busy schedules was an obstacle. We often work with Google Docs at my school and I thought what if we could collaborate on a shared document without needing to be in the same room, as we do with the Google Docs. That is when I knew we could create a shared online planbook that would benefit our shared students. It is in the spirit of true collaboration that I have created my capstone project The Open Planbook.
Home Gardens Academy
7th and 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher
Middle School Team Leader
Language Arts Department Chair
In 1978, as a fifth grade student, I reluctantly approached Mrs. Black (I was tremendously shy) and asked what I was supposed to do, because I was finished with my work. Mrs. Black, in what seemed like a grandmotherly way at the time, led me to her cupboard of books. Getting a glimpse inside a teacher's forbidden cupboards seemed magical. They haphazard stack of books, cardboard boxes, and glitter cast a spell on me. "I think I have something special here for you, because you're such a good reader," said Mrs. Black. With her outstretched hand she handed me a copy of A Wrinkle in Time. I took the book as if it were the most valuable trove in the history of gifts. I practically cradled like a baby as I proudly walked back to my desk. Perhaps she was just finding a way to get me back to my seat, but I was made to feel special. I eagerly read that book written especially for me. Don't tell Mrs. Black, but I did not care for that book at all. However, that is the moment where teaching chose me. I teach for the love of knowledge and the prospect of building a brighter future. Most of all, I teach, because someone made me feel special and I want to pass it on.
I have been teaching in the Corona-Norco Unified School District for sixteen years. I have taught 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 4/5 combos, 5/6 combos, 7th grade Language Arts, 8th grade History, and 8th grade language arts. It is my variety of teaching assignments that has strengthened my practice. The multiple perspectives allows me to approach problems in a variety of ways. You could say that my experiences have filled my tool belt.
In 2007 I was given the honor of being chosen as Home Gardens Elementary Teacher of the Year. Being selected by my peers was not something I took lightly, even if some people said that it's just a popularity contest. I wanted to let people know that I was just one teacher at a school that was filled with amazing teachers. So, I wanted to represent my school well at the district level. Later that same year I was selected as the Corona-Norco Unified School District Teacher of the Year. Winning these awards, and all the preparations involved in the process, allowed me to reflect on where I was as a professional and where I felt the profession was headed. I have continued with these reflections throughout my career.
It is through continuous reflection and the same inspiration that brought me to teaching that I approach my work in the Teacher Leader Certification Academy. Two of my classes have a large number of resource students in them. Upon reviewing assessment data, I realized that my resource students were not achieving at the level I know they are capable of. It was also evident that I work with a tremendously talented resource specialist, but I was not utilizing her talents. It then occurred to me that if she could review my plan book, she could give the resource students the kind of support they needed. However, finding time to collaborate in our busy schedules was an obstacle. We often work with Google Docs at my school and I thought what if we could collaborate on a shared document without needing to be in the same room, as we do with the Google Docs. That is when I knew we could create a shared online planbook that would benefit our shared students. It is in the spirit of true collaboration that I have created my capstone project The Open Planbook.