I have been involved in multiage education since the middle

                                                        70’s. During this time, my own children, Steve and Stacy, were        

                                                        enrolled in the program and I was a parent volunteer.  Research        

                                                        shows and I believe that parent involvement is vital to children’s    

                                                        educational success.  In 1992 when I became master teacher for

                                                        the multiage primary program, I created a classroom environment        

                                                        that encouraged parent participation. 

                                                        After receiving my undergraduate degree, teacher credential, and        

                                                        master’s degree all from CSUF, I continued addressing the

                                                        importance parents play in their child’s education by writing a guidebook for teachers and creating a writing project that involved children, parents, and the community.  For my thesis project I wrote, Parent’s and Teacher’s Together: A Teacher’s Guide to Parent Involvement. I wanted to share by own experiences, curriculum ideas, and resources that would be helpful for teachers.  I also developed, implemented and gave district workshops on Family Message Journals, a curriculum letter writing activity.  Through written communication both children and family members respond to children’s personal recording of their classroom activities in a family journal. Family message journals are an invaluable experience for parents, children, and teachers working together and opening the door to the parent school connection.

            I look forward to the times I get to relax with my family, my husband, son and daughter, and two

            grandchildren. I also love to garden and crochet.