Some things just don’t change.  All throughout my school career, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answers always revolved around careers geared toward “helping people,” in particular, helping children.  Doctor, counselor, social worker, teacher…to name those I most seriously considered.  As you have already guessed, when I grew up, I did become a teacher! In fact, I became a middle school teacher of 7^th graders, helping them to learn the skills and knowledge associated with Language Arts and History (plus a whole lot more about life and relationships and navigating the system).

Born and raised in Santa Rosa, CA, I headed to UC Davis for my undergraduate work.  After graduating with a B.S. in Human Development, I moved to Sunnyvale where I taught 3^rd graders at a small private school in San Jose. I earned my masters and multiple subject teaching credential through the Critical Research Academy at San Jose State University. With credential in hand, I came to Sunnyvale School District, specifically, Columbia Middle School, where I taught for 9 years and served as instructional coach for 3. I then had the pleasure of serving all schools in our district as a district instructional coach, specifically coordinating and supporting Middle School Literacy and K-8 English Language Development before becoming the Assistant Principal and now the Principal here at Cumberland.

At the start of this journey, I only had an inkling of just how complex the work of this profession would be, challenging me daily to wrestle, learn, grow and adapt.  As a teacher, an educator, I am also a learner – I have to be for the students and staff that I work with, especially in the rapidly changing and fast-paced world we are preparing students for.  As principal at Cumberland, I am thrilled to be working side-by-side with teachers, staff, and families to continue the work of helping people: learning and implementing practices that will best serve our students in pursuing what they most want to be when they grow up.