What is your experience and training and how did you come to our school?
Why do you believe in our public charter Montessori school?
What is your experience and training and how did you come to our school?
My career in education started a bit later, after time as a Ski School Director, Personal Trainer, Project Manager, and other endeavors.
I started teaching at a Charter School, for third grade, after which I moved to WCSD for a sixth grade classroom, then as a Middle School teacher. I was lucky to become involved with the GATE Magnet program, teaching Mathematics and Science, as well as electives, such as Health & Fitness and Physical Education.
I moved into a Facilitator role in WCSD GATE for the MS Magnet program for a few years, then went back into the classroom for a year before becoming the GATE Specialist. Two years ago, I left the WCSD for the private sector. Most recently, I have been working as the principal for a private High School.
Why do you believe in our public charter Montessori school?
I visited HDMS during the 23-24 school year and was duly impressed by the culture, and how it felt like believe a school should feel, meaning that students were engaged, teachers were upbeat, and the program functioned well.
I am happy for the opportunity to help our students learn to ‘speak math’ with confidence, and to help the students enjoy the process of learning.
What is your experience and training and how did you come to our school?
One of the most remarkable moments of my life was the summer when I was helping with the construction of our family cabin in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Tuolumne County, California. My mother brought me a letter sent from the University of California at Berkeley that stated I was accepted to attend the University that Fall. That was an awesome letter! Once I completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Zoology at Berkeley, I moved to Newport Beach to attend University of California at Irvine graduate school to study Secondary Science Education. One benefit of living in Newport Beach was that I was able to go surfing every morning during the summer and work nights at Disneyland. I have been teaching high school and middle school science off and on since then.
Because of my enthusiasm for the outdoors, I moved to Wyoming where I completed a Master’s degree in Animal Science at the University of Wyoming, worked on a buffalo ranch outside of Laramie, and chaired the science department at Cheyenne East High School. Oh yes, I also did a lot of fly fishing. Because of my love for science and research, I moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where I completed a doctorate in Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan followed by six years of postdoctoral training in neuroscience and stem cell biology. After all of that, I was back in the classroom teaching high school and middle school science.
It has been a pleasure to move to Reno to be close to my family and teach science at local charter schools, including High Desert Montessori School.
Why do you believe in our public charter Montessori school?
It is clear that High Desert Montessori School shares a commitment to child-centered developmental education—and the life-changing transformations that result from that commitment. Care of self, care of others, and care of the environment is a big part of their education. I look forward to providing opportunities to explore choice and unique learning opportunities for our adolescent learners in the area of science and environmental education. I will be working closely with the team at HDMS and Washoe County School District to deliver the best possible Montessori school experience for our students.
2) Why do you believe in our public charter Montessori school?
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