My Background

I studied at California State University, Fullerton and majored in Liberal Studies. This major is very similar to the General Studies transfer degree offered at Salt Lake Community College. For my degree, I created a portfolio of college assignments and experiences outside the classroom; later I used my portfolio to achieve recognition and enter in the workplace.

When I finished my education there were very few teaching positions available in Southern California. To create an edge in the tight teaching market, I included important artifacts contained in my portfolio. For example, I completed my student teaching at an underserved Title I ESL elementary school. I included this important information on my resume to set me apart from the many applications and resumes sent to school districts. I applied to 25 school districts and chose to interview at three of them. In the end my perseverance paid off- I was hired in three different districts and I was able to choose the best job and location to begin my career. By choice, I began teaching in a combined class of fourth, fifth and sixth graders in a lower income elementary school in Azusa, California. .  

When I was expecting my first baby I made the choice to stay home to raise my son and other children to come to our family. I left a tenured position and began the life of a stay at home mom to four children. Many times I wondered if I could ever return and compete for a job as a fulltime teacher, so I set goals. One objective was to achieve economic and personal preparedness: I kept my skills and certificates up to date. I also obtained a Master’s Degree in Education, specializing in Diverse Learners. As each goal was achieved, I remained focused on my long-term plan of returning to the classroom.

My husband’s career promotions allowed our family to move several times and I taught part time at community colleges on the west and east coasts. Since 2000 I have been teaching at Salt Lake Community College first as an adjunct and then as fulltime faculty.

I resigned from the College in 2007 to serve a teaching mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints. Together with my husband, we served in the world famous Soweto Township, in the Johannesburg, South Africa Mission. I also trained 500 teachers how to use a basic literacy program. The instructors were teachers from Cape Town, South Africa to Kampala, Uganda and points in between.

Upon returning to the United States I went through the formal hiring process and was rehired in the Developmental Education Department. With a recent change in the administration and teaching landscape I now teach for the English Department.