My experience spans over 40 years of teaching. My background is quite diverse
including standard 1st and 3rd grade teaching, small group instruction, Special
education, providing teacher assistance in behavior management and
coordinating Mental Health services for Head Start.
For 5 years I taught in a residential Mental Health facility (specifically in the Crisis
Center) working with children ranging an age from four to eighteen. Having been
removed from their homes due to various crisis situations (neglect, abuse, sexual
abuse, trauma, etc.) they were brought to the Crisis Center or group home.
My responsibilities were for the younger clients' educational needs, developing
IEP's, individual and group instruction and creating , implementing individualized
behavioral plans and working in collaboration with the Social workers,
psychologist and medical staff.
In 1995, I began working as a Special Education Teacher at Camden County OEO
Head Start (Camden NJ) and remained there for 7 years, This included
observation of classrooms, developing IEP's, providing assistance to the teachers
and parents, and trainings for staff and parents, I remained there for 7 years
until relocating in California.
For 2 years I worked for the Clovis Unified School district in their Intervention
class for primary grades, after which I returned to Head Start in Fresno.
Initially I began as a Disabilities Specialist and eventually became the Mental
health Coordinator until my retirement in 2021,
During my tenure as MH Coordinator I have presented at California Head Start
conventions ( Burlingame, San Diego, Long Beach, Los Angeles) , three National
Head Start conventions
(twice in Nashville and once in Long Beach) and in 2020 was invited to participate
in a Webinar for Region 9 Head Start with Dr, Norman Lorenz, entitled "Grief and
Loss with young Children,"
Currently I facilitate a support group for those struggling with challenges and loss,
( " Journey to Resilience....moving through challenges and loss to hope and joy")