The Basics...
Where I'm From...I moved every two to three years of my life until I was out of college. My dad was in the Navy, and we lived in San Diego, Hawaii, Michigan, Washington State, the Philippines, Marin County, and Ireland. I was born here, went to kindergarten and college here, and my grandparents and cousins were here, so I usually called San Diego home. I lived in San Francisco and Oakland for 20 years until 2015, which is why the Bay Area is my home-away-from-home.
|
My Path to Teaching...From an early age, I loved performing and exploring characters' perspectives, defying my own self-imposed limitations through acting and dance. During college at UCSD, I dove into my studies in non-Western history, and had a transformative internship with the La Jolla Playhouse's Outreach and Education department, teaching playwriting to fifth graders in Southeast San Diego. I was hooked, as I saw how theater could be a tool for young people to share their passions and ideas with a wider audience. I moved to San Francisco and worked as an arts educator and program director, integrating theater, storytelling, and writing for several years in SF public schools. I worked with teens across the Bay Area and New England in collaborative theater creation, and toured as director with them. Seeing the "educator" part of my arts educator self growing stronger, I went back to school and got my Master's degree in Education and credential from UC Berkeley. I have taught Humanities and English to middle and high school students in San Lorenzo and Oakland, as well as coached teachers and been a lecturer at UC Berkeley. I have also loved teaching The Writing Process with UC Berkeley's Academic Talent Development Program for eight years, serving students from the wider Bay Area and beyond.
|
What Brought Me Here...I loved living and working in Oakland, but my husband and I felt drawn to live closer to extended family in San Diego and Los Angeles. As I learned about High Tech High and met HTH school leaders and students, I was eager to join this dynamic community of learners! I am ecstatic to return to the classroom full-time, and to integrate my passions for social justice, creative expression, writing, and world history into one course - and to live close to my family while doing so!
|
My Greatest Teachers |
My Passions |
Though I had a few great teachers growing up, I continue to learn and grow the most from my husband, Koichi, and our two sons, Ando (14) and Kane (17). They are all so curious, creative, brave and kind; I am so grateful for them.
|
I am passionate about seeking out diverse perspectives and underrepresented voices, and supporting young people to build solid literacy skills to share their stories, passions, and ideas with the world while seeking out the wisdom, experience, and perspectives of others. I love sharing stories, sharing food, and sharing adventures.
|