Professora “J”
I grew up in Camas, WA and graduated from CHS in 1982. Representing my school and community, Costa Rica was my home two weeks later while immersing myself into a new culture as an American Field Service (AFS) student. My home was with a family of five in a small rural community called “Barranca” in the state of Puntarenas. Puntarenas(from "punta arenas", or "sand point" in Spanish) is the capital and largestcityin the provincePuntarenas,Costa Rica, on the Pacific coast.
My University studies include earning an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree (AA) from Clark College in Vancouver, WA and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. Graduating from WWU , I majored in Spanish, Latin American Studies and Geography. My studies through WWU also included spending a quarter abroad in Morelia, Mexico attending University classes in the city and living with a native Spanish speaking family. I earned my Masters in Teaching (MIT) and also my Professional Certification (Pro-Cert) at WSU-Vancouver.
Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and working as an Administrator and Lead Teacher in a migrant Head Start program in Mt. Vernon, WA were early teaching experiences. I also worked with Hispanic students of all ages in the Battleground School District as an ESL instructor. Finding my passion as a Spanish teacher with the Vancouver School District, teaching school brings joy to my life each day! I have been teaching at TJMS since the school opened in 2004.
Gardening, photography and cooking up all sorts of dishes are a few of my hobbies. Traveling is my favorite past-time! Experiencing new and exciting places are always fun adventures. I loved visiting Puerto Rico as a port stop on a cruise, and hope to return and explore more of the country one day!