I have been a professional educator for over 30 years. I have my BA from the University of Washington which includes my teaching credential in Elementary Education with a major in Psychology. I earned my Masters from U.W. in Curriculum and Instruction and my Administrative Credentials from Western Washington University.
For 25 years I taught various elementary grade levels in the technology innovative Shoreline School District which is located north of Seattle, Washington. During this time I created and produced a school-wide weekly TV program called "Channel 3 Kid News", was chosen as an Apple Classroom of Tomorrow participant, trained staff and parents on computer technology, was a K-12 District Social Studies Specialist, co-chaired the District Computer Committee, was a PTA Golden Acorn Recipient, and served on numerous district committees for nearly all subject areas.
In 1997, my first year on The Big Island, I taught math and language arts to Special Education students in grades 4/5 at Kahakai Elementary School in Kona. It was a very rewarding and challenging position and ended when the teacher I was replacing returned from leave. As a result of that I was hired the next year by Felicity Johnson, at this wonderful private school in Kona called Hualalai Academy. I had the good fortune to teach nine fourth graders all of the academic subjects that year. Specialists taught foreign languages, art, P.E., computers, and library.
My husband, John, and our daughter, Jennifer, and I moved to Kona fulfilling a ten year dream to live in paradise. We moved to the Big Island after selling our computer and pay-phone business. John did mortgage loans and is an artist whose paintings are now showing at Hawaii Healing Ohana in Kona. He is also writing a science fiction novel and sings his own song compositions. My hobbies include web design, videography, reading, computers and any kind of electronic technology, drawing, painting, clay sculpture, and snorkeling. We recently built a very large two story house and pool here in Kona and the finishing details and landscaping takes up most of John’s spare time. In my spare time I have a web design business. John and I are also directors in our Usana Health Sciences business of nutritional supplements and skin care products. Usana means true health in Greek and this business keeps us very healthy!
I am sharing my love for learning again this year with a new group of students at Hualalai Academy. I believe that teaching is a way of touching the future of children. I strive to be a model for them to become caring, empathetic, and productive future citizens.
