I have been in education for 30 years. I began my career at an American School in Guadalajara, Mexico, teaching in English to Spanish-speaking students. I taught pre-K my first year there, and second and third graders the following year. Following my two years in Mexico I became a bilingual teacher for Carlsbad Unified School District. I taught fourth grade for three years, and third grade during my fourth year with the district. During that last year in Carlsbad I applied for and was named a Mentor teacher. I believe that marks my first position of teacher leadership.
After four years I left Carlsbad to work for Vista Unified School District, and I spent seven years there. I initially taught third grade, but later team-taught sixth graders. During that time I focused on language arts and social studies, while my team teaching partner taught math and science. During my time at Beaumont Elementary I took on leadership responsibilities by organizing and implementing Family Math Nights, and I initiated our school's participation in the Math, Science, and Beyond program, working with a team of teachers to organize and present family nights with hands-on math and science activities.
During my time in Vista I also served on a textbook adoption committee, and a language arts district committee.
I have been teaching in San Diego Unified for the past 17 years. I have taught at four different schools in the district, and I have worked with a variety of grade levels: second grade, fourth grade, fifth grade, and even one year teaching sixth/seventh/eighth (in Spanish.) About ten of those years were spent teaching Spanish in a bilingual classroom. As a teacher at Longfellow Spanish Immersion School I served on the school's School Site Council, and served as chair of the technology committee. I also worked with another teacher to develop Longfellow's original website, and during my last year there I was elected teacher of the year by my colleagues.
I am currently in my eleventh year at Dana Middle School. I originally taught fifth grade language arts, and a Spanish elective, and I am currently teaching sixth grade math, social studies, and a computer elective (technology support services). I have served as the chair of the fifth grade language arts team, and of the sixth grade math team. I have also served on our school's Instructional Leadership Team for the past four years, initially as the sixth grade math representative, and now as the technology integration representative.
Other responsibilities I have taken on at Dana include working as the site's Digital Teacher Leader since 2009, and I have continued in that role every year since then. As the lead technology teacher I have been observed by teachers on my site, as well as teachers and administrators from other schools both in the district and outside of the district. I support teachers at my site in their use of technology, specifically in becoming comfortable with the components of the i21 program of SDUSD. I have planned and presented at professional development events at my site, including a training around the Common Core Standards, training for the new PowerSchool interface, and most recently a PD introducing SAMR to staff and providing a "buffet" of technology mini-courses. I was also involved in the planning of a Point Loma cluster technology professional development day, and provided training on ActivEngage during that event.
During the summers I have worked as the lead teacher for our site's Project Based Learning team, and I participated as a member of a math professional development team and a blended learning team. I have taught professional development courses for our district's Educational Technology department, and I have also developed two classes for the department: Using Technology to Differentiate in a Math Class, and My Big Campus: Creating Dynamic Pages.
After four years I left Carlsbad to work for Vista Unified School District, and I spent seven years there. I initially taught third grade, but later team-taught sixth graders. During that time I focused on language arts and social studies, while my team teaching partner taught math and science. During my time at Beaumont Elementary I took on leadership responsibilities by organizing and implementing Family Math Nights, and I initiated our school's participation in the Math, Science, and Beyond program, working with a team of teachers to organize and present family nights with hands-on math and science activities.
During my time in Vista I also served on a textbook adoption committee, and a language arts district committee.
I have been teaching in San Diego Unified for the past 17 years. I have taught at four different schools in the district, and I have worked with a variety of grade levels: second grade, fourth grade, fifth grade, and even one year teaching sixth/seventh/eighth (in Spanish.) About ten of those years were spent teaching Spanish in a bilingual classroom. As a teacher at Longfellow Spanish Immersion School I served on the school's School Site Council, and served as chair of the technology committee. I also worked with another teacher to develop Longfellow's original website, and during my last year there I was elected teacher of the year by my colleagues.
I am currently in my eleventh year at Dana Middle School. I originally taught fifth grade language arts, and a Spanish elective, and I am currently teaching sixth grade math, social studies, and a computer elective (technology support services). I have served as the chair of the fifth grade language arts team, and of the sixth grade math team. I have also served on our school's Instructional Leadership Team for the past four years, initially as the sixth grade math representative, and now as the technology integration representative.
Other responsibilities I have taken on at Dana include working as the site's Digital Teacher Leader since 2009, and I have continued in that role every year since then. As the lead technology teacher I have been observed by teachers on my site, as well as teachers and administrators from other schools both in the district and outside of the district. I support teachers at my site in their use of technology, specifically in becoming comfortable with the components of the i21 program of SDUSD. I have planned and presented at professional development events at my site, including a training around the Common Core Standards, training for the new PowerSchool interface, and most recently a PD introducing SAMR to staff and providing a "buffet" of technology mini-courses. I was also involved in the planning of a Point Loma cluster technology professional development day, and provided training on ActivEngage during that event.
During the summers I have worked as the lead teacher for our site's Project Based Learning team, and I participated as a member of a math professional development team and a blended learning team. I have taught professional development courses for our district's Educational Technology department, and I have also developed two classes for the department: Using Technology to Differentiate in a Math Class, and My Big Campus: Creating Dynamic Pages.