In My Classroom 1976-2008

Welcome!! In my classroom, I am committed to the achievement of high academic standards for every child. With involved parents and community, the classroom is alive with a love of learning. I am engaged in an endless search for ways to excite students and improve learning. Thirty years of teaching in the Everett School District brought me to Cedar Wood prior to it opening as a part of the core team and I have been here ever since, with the exception of a two-year sabbatical leave, during which I worked on a project called "Sea to See", sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Everett School District. The project allowed my husband, Jim, and I to circumnavigated the world in 426 days, 211 at sea and 215 on land. I communicated with Cedar Wood via e-mail sharing experiences and cultures through the voyage.
I graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Speech Communication. Later, I returned to Western Washington University, to receive my Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and my Principal certificate at the same time. I keep current with hundreds of classes in varying subject matters.
My husband and I live on our Tartan 48' sailboat "Cape St. James" at Shilshole Bay Marina. My husband, Jim, is an architect in Seattle, who does new houses, remodels and small commercial work including shoreline projects.
My daughter, Jennifer graduated in May 2003 from Washington State University'sCollege of Veterinary Medicine. She spent one year at Colorado State University completing a medicine and surgery internship before moving on to the University of Minnesota for a dual Master's/Residency in Internal Medicine program. Jennifer completed this program, receiving her Master's degree and diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2007. Currently, she is working as an NIH Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation, working on her PhD project which involves studying ways to successfully transplant pancreatic islet cells to cure Type I Diabetes.
My hobbies include sailing, jewelry making, quilting, fishing, reading, and presently collecting Navy place settings. Reaching beyond the four walls of our classroom has always been a goal of mine so, with the help of many grants and businesses, my students have enjoyed completing exciting projects. My classes have collaborated with NASA, Boeing, University of Washington, University of Arizona, UpJohn Pharmaceutical and many local businesses. Many of these projects have received national recognition. My students were the first from the state of Washington to have an exhibit in the Smithsonian Institute's National Air and Space Museum, with their creation of the Martian Drivers License for Brian Cooper (Rover driver) at JPL NASA. The State of Washington recognized the license with the Governors, and Secretary of States signatures along with the signature of Vice President Al Gore. NASA proudly displays the license to this day. In 1997, I was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Elementary Science Education.