This is my first major influence- my hometown of Homer, Alaska. I was born in this "Cosmic Hamlet By the Sea," as it was named by a local character, and lived in a town of only 4,000 people until I was 18. I wpent my time there catching huge king salmon, swimming thousands of yards (though not in the ocean), climbing in fishing nets suspended in trees, jumping off giant wood chip piles, and working summers as a "halibut cheerleader" or a slimeline worker. Yes, that's an official job title.
However, as you may imagine, by the time I was 18 I was more than ready for larger crowds and warmer climates, so I headed south to attend UC Berkeley, where I germinated in a hotbed of radical thinking, direct action, and intellectual stimulation. While studying abroad in Chile with the School for International Training, and participating in the "Battle in Seattle," I also managed to major in Peace and Conflict Studies. This rare major focused on conflict prevention and resolution from the individual to the global scale. I graduated from Berkeley with a BA, a passion for politics and peace, and a deep belief in the global connections betwen individuals and societies.
Contrary to all predictions by naysayers, I had no problem at all finding a job with my obscure degree. After working as a State Coalition Organizer (mainly writing grants and lobbying) at YouthBuild USA for a few years, I once again wanted warmth, and traveled to Thailand, where I spent 8 months living on the tropical island of Koh Tao, and getting my divemaster certification in SCUBA diving. I was lucky enough to swim with whale sharks and manta rays, and more recently the Mola Mola pictured to the left. Diving is one of my lifelong passions, and I can't wait to introduce students to this amazing sport!
While I adore diving, and plan to retire to a boat in the tropics, I eventually decided that I should come back to the US. I ended up attending graduate school at Stanford, obtaining a Masters in Education, marrying my husband, and getting hired at High Tech High Bayshore in quick sucession. After my first year of teaching, John and I moved to San Diego so I could take a job at High Tech High Media Arts. At this school I was surrounded by amazing and creative teachers who were dedicated to improving their craft. I am thrilled to bring the project-based model to Durango, and am incredibly excited to be teaching at Animas High School.
