Candidate for
Board Member; Fountain Valley School District

I was born and raised in Wisconsin. I attended Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, where I earned my B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Education. I did my student teaching in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduation from college, I came to California for my post graduate work. I completed my course work for a clear, standard, life teaching credential and earned a specialty credential in early childhood education.

I'm married with three grown children and four wonderful grandchildren, two of whom are in our schools. I've lived in Fountain Valley for twenty years. My husband and I are active throughout the community.

I started my 39 year teaching career in Fountain Valley School District at Fountain Valley Elementary School in Kindergarten. Twenty years later that school site was closed and I was assigned to Moiola School. There I taught both first grade and Kindergarten. My final three years of teaching were as a Reading Specialist serving at- risk students at Moiola, Courreges and Oka.

I had the honor of teaching hundreds of students during these years and in a few cases, got to teach the children of children I taught. I continue to be humbled by the friendships that have endured within the community all these years.

Over the years, I have served as a School Improvement Plan coordinator, Track and Field Day coordinator, teacher liaison to the PTA, master teacher to student teachers and Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment provider to teachers. Understanding the benefits of utilizing technology, I coordinated the IBM Writing To Read program. I, also, took the leadership role in implementing the Values In Action program. I wrote and was awarded many competitive grants which brought additional funding into either the classroom or the school.

I received Moiola's PTA Volunteer recognition. I was named Moiola's Teacher of the Year (2004-2005) and then proceeded on in the process and was named Fountain Valley School District's Teacher of the Year (2004-2005). Former students, once in high school, nominated me for the Who's Who of American Teachers - Honoring Our Nation's Most Respected Teachers. I received the honor on three different occasions.

In 2006, I received the Senator Everett M. Dirksen Award for outstanding public awareness and understanding of the Right To Work principle. California State Senator, Tom Harmon, awarded me the 2009 Woman of the Year for the 35th Senatorial District.

My volunteer activities include committee work at church, Fountain Valley Community Foundation volunteer, 12 years serving the Mariposa Homeowner's Association, volunteer for senior education classes, and Board Member of the National Right To Work Committee and the National Institute for Labor Relations Research.

I value hard work, sterling character, and courage in taking principled stands, a positive attitude and a grateful heart.