San Pasqual Union School District

Welcome parents!  Thank you for stopping by.  This will be my twenty-second year at San Pasqual Union.  I have been a first, second, and third- grade teacher here, as well as a reading specialist.  I treasure each day that I get to teach at such a wonderful school.  The parents and the kids here have been positive and supportive over the years, and I feel very lucky to work in an environment with a great faculty and staff.    

 

I grew up in the Boston area in a sports-oriented family.  My father played professional baseball with the Detroit Tigers and a few other teams and coached with the Red Sox and Phillies.  I received my bachelor's degree in journalism from Ball State University before leaving the cold of the Midwest for California.  I took a hiatus in the mid-90's and earned a master's degree in education with a specialty in the teaching of reading in 1997 from Western Michigan University. 

 

I borrow my educational philosophy from former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden.  His four rules of educating/coaching are:  1. Explanation,  2. Demonstration,  3. Imitation,  and 4. Repetition.  I prefer to build on those four with four of my own:  5. Repetition,  6. Repetition,  7. Repetition, and 8. Repetition.  

 

I also borrow heavily from the positive reinforcement principles of education experts Lee Cantor and Dr. Fred Jones.  More often than not, the carrot is a better motivator than the stick.  The goal is to develop intrinsic motivation within each of the children as they progress in their academic careers.  I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you this year.