I am a fourth generation educator, carrying on the tradition begun by my great-grandmother and grandmother, who taught in one-room schoolhouses in Oklahoma and Nevada. I have been an instructor for the Ventura County Community College District since 1996, and have 38 years of experience in the Child Development field. Before accepting my full-time position at Moorpark College, I served as a teacher and administrator in a variety of child development programs, worked privately as an educational consultant, and served as adjunct faculty at both the University of LaVerne and California State University Northridge. As a preschool teacher, I learned very quickly that while I helped the children to make many important discoveries, the children taught me just as many lessons about child development and even life itself!
I entered the field of education and pursued my particular career path because I believe in the value of human potential. I am passionate about the teaching profession, and continue to search for ways that I can be influential in empowering not only my college students, but also my students’ students. In October 2014, I completed my doctorate (Ed. D.) in Higher Education Leadership at California Lutheran University. Returning to school after more than 20 years and qualifying as a “nontraditional student” gave me a deeper appreciation for my own students’ experience.
I am grateful for the educational opportunities I have had in my life, and am convinced that higher education is essential to social mobility and quality of life. I am proud to share that I have also been honored by the Child Care Information Exchange as an Exceptional Master Leader in Early Childhood Education and by the Simms-Mann Institute as a 2015-19 Faculty Fellow. In 2023, I was selected to participate with a small group of Moorpark faculty in the statewide Open for Antiracism (OFAR) project. This project reflects my deep commitment to supporting all students in realizing their educational aspirations. Subsequently, I was honored to serve as an OFAR coach for teams from community colleges across California.
I am honored to be working with the fabulous teachers, faculty, staff and students of the Moorpark College Child Development Department, and look forward to having the opportunity to support your academic and professional development in Child Development, Education, and related fields.