SMMS Staff

Education
BS in Elementary Education
Minor in Library Science and Reading
Endorsement in ESL
Masters in Educational Administration and Supervision 

Experience
35+ years in education
22+ at Santa Maria Middle School

Why I Teach
There's no place like middle school. Every day is a new adventure in the classroom with students who still like to act like younger children and at the same time want their adult-like independence. Spending the day with middle schoolers involves building relationships in quirky ways, having light-bulb moments of learning amid epic failures in trial and error. They wear their emotions on their sleeve and appreciate supportive adult guidance. They love to derail a lesson to be silly for a bit and can be serious when that's what we need to be. Watching middle school students' growth in three years - physically, academically, and socially - reminds me of the tremendous growth from birth to age three. Don't blink or you'll miss something really special. There's nothing quite like it, and I wouldn't trade working in middle school for any other level, not even on the days when they make me a little crazy. It's been my home for over 22 years, and I love it.

Education
BA Elementary Education

Experience
10 years in seventh grade at SMMS

Why I Teach
I choose to teach because as a child I struggled in elementary school, and I had a few teachers who worked with me by going above and beyond their job title to assist me. I feel like I owe it to the future to teach my students in a way those teachers taught me because their patience allowed me to become a successful student.

Education: 
Bachelor of Science in Biology, Arizona State University

Experience: 
5 years experience as the Curator of Reptiles/ Programming Director at Butterfly Wonderland. 10+ years Tennis/ Pickleball Coach at Lifetime Fitness.

Why I teach:
Teaching is something that feels very natural to me. I find myself enjoying seeing young people succeed to meet a goal. As a coach, I appreciate the struggle of defeat, being the motivation leading to the overjoy of victory, which is the mindset I bring into my classroom. Growth is the key for both teaching and coaching, and I enjoy providing an enthusiastic and positive environment to cultivate that growth in our students.

Education
BA Elementary Education - Arizona State University

Experience
I started my teaching career as an aide on the playground. I then moved into many different roles around the school I worked at, from running the computer lab to working in the classroom. After graduating college, I started as a sixth grade teacher for one year. I then came to Santa Maria Middle School where I taught seventh grade math for seven years. I've most recently been teaching eighth grade math for and Digital Media. I love doing new things and taking on new challenges every year.

Why I Teach
Teaching always presents me with something new to learn or master. I'm always finding ways to improve as a teacher and new challenges to take on. Every year is a different experience with its own rewards and its own challenges.

Education
MA Special Education

Experience
Four years

Why I Teach
My goal in teaching is to lead our students into a more academic-friendly mindset. I enjoy sharing my subject knowledge and continuing the flow of information to the next generation. It's important it instill in our students the idea that learning is a cycle that repeats and must be continued.

Education:
Bachelor in Elementary Education Major in General Education (Philippine Normal University-National Center for Teacher Education)

Experience:
I have been in the profession for more than 6 years.

Why do I teach?
Teaching is my passion. It's the fire within me that drives me to educate, inspire, and guide young minds to become the best versions of themselves. As a teacher, I find immense fulfillment in knowing that I have a crucial role in helping them achieve their full potential, one step at a time.