Professional Connections
Los Angeles County
Office of Education |
Elementary Physical Education Workshop
Past Director |
My Story
I started teaching in 2001 and my story is probably a very familiar story. I had a great foundation from my university (Cal Poly Pomona) but when I got into my job I fell upon some bad habits. To simply put it, I was not teaching. I was fortunate to be invited to the Subject Matter Project for Health & Physical Education in 2007 and my life has never been the same! The teacher-leaders and participants showed me how to become an effective teacher. I went back that year and was excited to teach again. In 2009 I started a new journey, National Board Certification, where I was challenged to step up my teaching practices. I had a period of enormous growth where I was constantly asking questions and challenging everything I thought about teaching physical education. I was able to certify in 2011 for Early and Middle Childhood in Physical Education. As apart of the journey to national boards I started to present at my state workshop. This was terrifying at first but I've become more comfortable over time. Along the way, I was asked to present at the K-8 Elementary Physical Education Workshop at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After a few years I was asked to become a committee member. I went back to school and received my Master's in Kinesiology in 2014 with an emphasis in Curriculum & Instruction. My project focused on developing training modules for other #Physed teachers to learn how to use technology effectively in Physical Education. As my degree started winding down I finally made a jump into something I had avoided for years. I signed up for Twitter (@Physedapps). The online #physed community has become a second (or third) home for myself professionally. I was also extremely lucky to have been asked to join a new Twitter chat, #ESPEchat, and became the third moderator shortly after #ESPEchat was created.
I have been honored and humbled to have received numerous awards. I received these because of some amazing people who have helped me along the way. I am just standing on the shoulders of the giants that have come before me. Even with this success I am still not done pushing myself to become a better teacher. My goal is to be a better teacher today than I was yesterday.
In November 2023 I changed positions. After 22+ years I've moved to the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE). I am a senior program specialist that works in two departments. First, I'm a Physical Education Specialist for the Physical Education & Comprehensive Health department. I am also a Physical Activity Specialist for the Nutrition and Wellness Department.
I have been honored and humbled to have received numerous awards. I received these because of some amazing people who have helped me along the way. I am just standing on the shoulders of the giants that have come before me. Even with this success I am still not done pushing myself to become a better teacher. My goal is to be a better teacher today than I was yesterday.
In November 2023 I changed positions. After 22+ years I've moved to the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE). I am a senior program specialist that works in two departments. First, I'm a Physical Education Specialist for the Physical Education & Comprehensive Health department. I am also a Physical Activity Specialist for the Nutrition and Wellness Department.