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I graduated with honors from Calif. State University, Hayward, with a BA degree in Music and a minor in Chemistry.
I taught for five years in the Brisbane School District as a classroom Music and Computer specialist. For both subjects I had to originate and design the district's curriculum. I taught all grade levels, K-8, as Brisbane is a very small district.
After leaving the Brisbane School District, I worked in industry for nearly twelve years at Adobe Systems. I worked for a few months as a phone technician answering tech support phone calls and researching software problems. I worked my way up as product specialist for typefaces, rasterizers, and drivers, and then became a Product Support Engineer. By the time I left Adobe, I was the Worldwide Product Support Manager for the Acrobat family of products.
From Adobe, I decided to try to use my skills in the financial arena as a Federally licensed Commodity Trading Advisor. I formed my own CTA company, but while my trading abilities were very good, I found that I had little interest in being a salesman, and spent most of my time educating people instead of selling to them.
I have now come back full-circle and am teaching 6th grade English, math, and science at Adelante School. In addition to teaching the curriculum, I intend to bring my considerable experience outside of academia into the classroom and teach in a real life, real world fashion.
I am extremely excited to be teaching at Adelante School, and specifically requested the assignment. I love Adelante's multicultural environment, parental involvement, professional staff, and outstanding management – there is no finer group anywhere of students to teach and people to work with.
I have been married for over 20 years and have three children attending school in the Redwood City and Sequoia School Districts.
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As a parent you work hard. You have a job to provide for your family, and you work to raise your children the best that you possibly can. You know that everyone has work to do in life.
Many things vie for your child's time: school, sports, music lessons, friends, religious activities, clubs, family & relatives. All of these things are important, but your child's work, or job, is to go to school and learn.
At school, children need to learn their course curriculum and how to get along with all kinds of different people. They need to learn how to be responsible and to do their school work.
Middle School students are still children, and they need your guidance so they can grow up. Make sure they understand the importance of school, and that just as you have to go to work five days a week, they have to go to their "job" too and do well at it.
You couldn't go to your job and not do your work, or be constantly late in the morning. What would happen if you always interrupted your boss or harassed other employees? You know what would happen – you would probably be fired!
School is no different from your job. Dedicated professionals are working in your child's classroom to help them grow and learn. If a child doesn't do their work or disrupts class at school, it would be just like you doing the same thing at your job! Your boss wouldn't stand for it, so why would a teaching professional?
Show your support for your child's work life by asking about how school is going. Look to see that homework is being brought home, finished on time, and returned to school. Go to Back-to-School night, parental conferences, and Open House. Volunteer to help on a field trip if you can.
Help your child get their work done and turn it in to class when it is due. Make sure they get enough sleep, which is crucial for middle school children whose bodies are changing. Be sure they get a good breakfast. Tell them you love them and show them that they are important to you (no matter what their grades), because that's what life is about. It will also help them to do their best when they go to work at their job at school.
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I will be happy to talk with you about your child's progress. Call or Email and we'll make an appointment.
Further, you are invited to attend my class at any time – my door is always open. Just be sure to check-in with the office first!
My contact info is available on my contact page.
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State of California
Math & Science Frameworks
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Math, Grades 4-7 (470k pdf)
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Math, Grades 8-12 (352k pdf)
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Science, Grades 6-7 (480k pdf)
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Science, Grades 8-12 (622k pdf)
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The state of California mandates the grade level material to be taught in the public schools, as described in these frameworks. The local school districts have the task to implement these mandates.
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I'm a parent too, so here is a collection of links to stories and web sites that I've found concerning parenting, help for parenting, and money saving items.
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