Why are you an educator?   I love working with children of all ages and I enjoy working alongside teachers and other professionals in the school setting.  There is always something new and interesting happening.   I believe that public schools can build strong programs that support all students,of all abilities, in achieving independence and success and it is exciting to be a part of that process.

What do you enjoy most about your career? There are a lot of great thing about being an SLP, the first thing that comes to mind is the relationships I am privileged to build with students, parents and colleagues.  Coming in a close second, I love the conversations that I have with students, they make me smile, every single day.

Years spend in the profession/district?  20 years as an SLP, this is my 10th year with VUSD.

What do you do in your spare/free time?  Most of my free time is diverted to family activities, we love the beach, Tahoe and traveling.  We are passionate readers and I attempt to garden,

What does being a member of the Vacaville Teachers Association mean to you?  When I think of VTA, I think of an organization that strives to support all of its members in a fair and equitable way. VTA is accessible and proactive.  VTA is an organization that can be counted on for information and support.   I have really appreciated everything VTA does and continues to do in supporting and building our teaching community.

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Use code: VTA2017

The Standard Campaign has officially started.  Sign up for Disability and Life Insurance coverage. If our campaign is successful, all members who sign up will get coverage without having to provide health evidence.  Representatives from the Standard will be visiting each of our school sites, either at a staff meeting or during lunch.  You can also sign up online.  See your Site Rep for more information.  The Standard is a CTA endorsed vendor.

1. Be the expert, but listen to their concerns. Parents expect you to be adept at teaching, but they want to feel that you value their input too. Not focusing only on the child’s weaknesses, but also their strengths, can help parents feel like you know their child.
2. Don’t start with the negative. Don’t begin the conversation with “I have no concerns” – that starts the exchange in deficit mode. Instead, start with a simple, plain language description of the three things you hope the students learns by being in your class.
3. Put your goals into words. Giving a syllabus or written materials is great, but creating a narrative to discuss your goals for the class is better. Talk about what you hope to accomplish during the semester with some excitement.
4. Provide feedback – both good and bad. Give them the feedback you need to provide, such as review of grades, assignments.  But if you feel it’s necessary to point out a deficit, then try to also point out a strength.
5. Before they leave, ask a question. This is one of the most important ways a parent can see that you care about their child and are seeking to develop a positive relationship with them. Something such as “What do you think I should know about your son or daughter to help him or her succeed in my class?” works. Or something more specific, such as “Tell me about your child’s sparks”, or perhaps their strengths, struggles, or supports.
6. Take notes on what you learn from the parent. Integrate what you learn from the parent into your interaction with the student and return to your notes at your next parent-teacher conference. Parents want to know their child is seen and cared for and that you are paying attention to the insights they are sharing with you about their child.