Who am I as an educator:
Throughout my years as a child in school, I had several very deep and personal relationships with a few of my teachers in Elementary school, Jr. High as well as High School. Early in my educational experience, the desire to follow in the foot steps of these inspiring teachers took root. I wanted to have an influence on the lives of children as my instructors had had on me. After graduation from High School in 1975, I enrolled and attended Western Oregon University. Later I transferred back to my birth town in the Midwest where I attended Evangel College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education 1981. Throughout my college days as a student, I taught at the college level in physical education both at Evangel and at Chemeketa Community College during the summers.
After graduation I returned to Oregon to the Willamette Valley to teach. I started my teaching career in a very difficult economic time for Oregon. My first teaching job was at the Kindergarten level for one year. At the end of the school year, the school closed. I went on to teach preschool at another private school. As the economy improved, I began teaching nearly full-time in the area of Physical Education. Recognizing the need for student to be educated in the use of technology, I led a campaign to raise funds for a computer lab to accommodate 15 students. When I was not teaching P.E. classes, I taught classes in computer education. After 18 years at this school, I transitioned to teaching technology & library skills to K-5th graders in the public school setting. I continued in this role for eight year. The cycle of hard economic times returned to Oregon once again. The school district, experienced budget difficulties, eliminated the library media technology program. Consequently, I am currently working as a part-time P.E. teacher looking for opportunities to return to the field of technology instruction.