Consultant
Entrusted Legacy & Los Angeles County Office of Education

U.S.: California Hub | NORTH AMERICA

I worked for 39 years in the Greenfield Union School District to provide children and youth with opportunities to enrich their lives.  During my years in Greenfield, I taught every grade, 1st through 8th grade, served as a visual and performing arts TOSA, began my administrative career as a curriculum specialist, then became an elementary school principal.  As a principal I also was an adjunct professor at Cal State Bakersfield, working with the teacher credentialing program to support student teachers in reading and literacy instruction.  I ended my formal education career as the coordinator of the Foundation for SUCCESS program which included the After School Education and Safety Program, 21st Century Community Learning Center Project funding, a 72 Member AmeriCorps program, two preschools, three Community Policing Projects, and a demonstration program in Elementary Counseling.  While in Greenfield, my goal was to “level the playing field” for the District’s young people.  To secure balanced and diversified funding for these grant-funded programs, I invited community leaders to join in the formation of the Foundation for Success, a 501 (c) (3), non-profit to bring community investments to the after-school program.  The SUCCESS After School Program was recognized as a Regional Learning Center (RLC), part of California’s Statewide System of Field Support.

Upon retirement I began consulting and supporting expanded learning programs throughout California.  I served as the Chief Program Officer for THINK Together, a non-profit providing after school and educational services across Southern California in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles Counties.  I have had the privilege to work for the Los Angeles County Office of Education, Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Ventura County Office of Education, Ocean View School District, Fontana School District as well as other schools around California.  I have worked with the California Department of Education, Expanded Learning Division in support of STEAM Learning and help to facilitate the STEAM Hubs as they come together to ensure high-quality STEAM learning across the state.

I received my doctoral degree from the University of La Verne in Organizational Management and Leadership in 2002.  My dissertation was a Delphi Study entitled “Where Are the Children?”, which engaged prominent afterschool leaders in forecasting the future of expanded learning programs—both the successes and challenges.

I have three grown sons, three amazing daughters-in-law, four grandchildren—two who are adults and two who are in kindergarten and preschool.  I enjoy reading, traveling, and learning.  I believe that to stay relevant, I need to continually reinvent myself in order to become the “best version” of myself.