ABOUT ME

Welcome to my Professional Development Quest Portfolio (PDQP)! This blog contains my journey as a teacher. 

BACKGROUND 

I worked in commercial real estate for over 17 years managing assets for several high profile companies including the World Bank. I decided in 2005 that I wanted to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Social Science with the goal of teaching college at night. In 2009 I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science from Chapman University, Sume Cum Laude and was proud to be the undergraduate validictorian. In 2009 while finalizing my degree I volunteered at the local high school. At that point I fell in love with teaching high school aged students and decided that this is where I should be. The timing was perfect. Due to the economic melt-down in the 2008, commercial real estate and malls in particular where hit hard. My company decided to sell their properties and I was more than ready to move on to my new career in teaching! I also come from a long line of teachers so this career transition was natural. 

EARLY TEACHING EXPERIENCE 

I started out my teaching career sort of backwards. I wanted to immerse myself in the teaching process and started working with my mentor and social science chair before actually starting my Master's in Education and the CA credential process. The experience I gained was invaluable. My mentor allowed me to teach his classes, design lesson plans and assessments, and really work with the students. I realized at that time that there was a serious need for relevance in the classroom. During my observations I noted a serious disconnect between what was being taught, how it was being taught and what the real world was demanding from the workforce. I also note that teaching methods were still in the "old school" direct style of teaching, heavy on lecture with little or no use of technology. The students were bored and disengaged. When my mentor handed me his classroom I decided to change things up. I added the use of technology including having the students use Skype and their smart phones. I formed collaborative groups and had them work on project based curriculum. I had them conduct peer and self-assessments and I gave them choices on their learning experiences. They immediately came alive, engaged and wanted to come to class. This was in 2010. By then educational talks via TED were alive and well and speakers like Sir Ken Robinson were preaching collaboration and engagement but little of these ideas were still being integrated into classrooms. Ironically, I integrated these ideas before pursuing my Master's Degree in Education and credential based solely on my experience in the business world.  After my success in the classroom I decided to pursue my Master's of Education and CA teaching credential. As my education progressed I decided to add a specialization in technology. I also plan to pursue a second Master's of Science Degree in Education Technology.

MY STUDENTS

I still volunteer and help the school out with fundraising, training teachers in effective technology use, substitute teach, and assist with annual STAR testing. In 2011 I chaperoned a group of seven students on a trip to the Smithsonian that was an amazing experience. In 2012 a group of seniors asked me to be their senior project mentor - I gladly accepted. My validation for teaching came to me from one student. He was a troubled senior who was not going to graduate and all of the teachers and administration had given up on him. He would turn his desk around and face the other way in our classroom. I started to talk to him slowly, told him I was a student teacher and if he needed to talk I was here. I solicited the help of the girls who sat in close proximity to him and told them to just say hello every day. I would bring him a snack every day. One day he emerged from his hoodie and looked up at me and said "Thank you". After that he slowly confided in me that he was homeless and that his parents had drug and alcohol issues. I was then able to work with counseling to find him a place to live, clothes and food. I spoke with the coach and got the student involved in sports. At the end of the year he graduated! He came to me and told me I was the best teacher he ever had. He said because of me he wanted to attend college with the goal of becoming an attorney. I was so happy that I was able to reach one student. The Vice Principal asked me how I did it. My answer was simple -- I listened. Sometime that's all it takes. On another occasions while helping with STAR testing I was walking by my former classroom and one of my students called my name. I asked him what he was doing taking history again! He told me he was tutoring other students and history now and then told the classroom teacher that I was the best history teacher ever and that he is going to be a history teacher just like me. That was very inspiring!

MY FUTURE

I was recently presented with a job opportunity to work as an Education Technology Specialist for a private school. Unfortunately, I turned it down for various reasons, but mainly I would have to give up obtaining my CA credential. I will be graduating this July without the CA credential portion completed and then will re-enroll in the credential program with intentions of student teaching in January. In the interim I will be pursuing online teaching opportunities. One fact is constant - my love of teaching and working with students to ensure their future success in the world -- this is definitely my purpose in life.