I am a recently retired Educator. In fact I only retired just this last May from the Oakdale Joint Unified School District, where  I have had a very successful career as a high school English Teacher, however, that is not how I began my working life.  For my entire adult life I have worked in public service.  I began as a young adult in the hospitality industry where I worked as a maid, then custodian, and eventually a food server for the various restaurants in Yosemite National Park.  Many years later at the age of 31, I was accepted into the Diablo Valley College's Reentry Program and it changed my life. It was here that I was encouraged to become a teacher. I worked diligently in order to transfer to UC Berkeley where I received my BA in English.  I then transferred to Fresno State where I earned my teaching credential and did my student teaching at Hoover High School.  I was fortunate enough to be hired right out of the program to teach at Don Pedro High School, a small necessary high school in the foothills.  After 6 years I moved to Oakdale High School where I worked for the remainder of my career.  

A successful society is dependent on strong educational institutions, and I consider myself a community college success story. The skills I have to offer the candidacy for board member are the results of real life experiences, 27 years as a classroom teacher, 10 years as a Department Chairperson, several years as a union negotiator and union representative as well as my innate enthusiasm, energy and drive.  I owe a huge debt to the community college system, and while I understand these are challenging times for many districts, I would appreciate the opportunity to give back and contribute my strengths to help promote the continued success and integrity of the Yosemite Community College System.