This is my third year as a teacher at Commodore Sloat school, and I’m grateful to be part of such an amazing community of students, parents and educators! My first two years were spent as an inclusion specialist and part of an awesome Special Education team- a shout out to all the paras at Sloat that help our students everyday and ALL day, THANK YOU!
I began my teaching career over twenty years ago as a recreation specialist for PARCA in San Mateo county. We merged two programs, forming one of the first inclusive after-school recreation play sites for students with and without disabilities, in the early 90’s. I furthered my career in Marin as a 1:1 behavioral aide for numerous students with severe disabilities being fully integrated into general education classrooms, while simultaneously receiving both my General and Special Education credentials at SF State. After working as a Special Education teacher at the Laurel School and in Albany Unified for three years I decided it was time to take a job close to home and spent my first year working for SF Unified as a specialist. I managed a collaborative effort between SF State, SFUSD-School to Career Department and Toolworks, an adult service organization helping to integrate student adults into the San Francisco community via vocational activities and teaching daily life skills.
My second career, as a professional chef and caterer became sparked while volunteering for Project Open Hand with students. I went on to receive my culinary degree, worked as a student chef in France, and came home to work in some fine-dining restaurants, here in SF! Cooking and hiking are definitely two activities that help keep my life balanced! The call for working with kids came again and I found myself teaching cooking classes to teens at Walden House youth facilities before the funding disappeared for those programs. This, in turn led to my most recent and seven year career stint as an educator for Jefferson Elementary School District in Daly City, as a Reading/Math Specialist and Third Grade Teacher.
I pursued and chose Commodore Sloat School as a place/opportunity to grow as an educator. I’m looking forward to another amazing year, this time with fourth grade students and collaborating closely with fabulous, Mr. Kenney!