1. Why are you a teacher?

As a young mother, I spent a lot of my free time volunteering in our sons’ classrooms, and realized that I enjoyed it immensely.  My sister, Theresa Loarca, also encouraged me to give education a try.  She was already teaching in Dixon, and her passion for teaching had a major impact on me.

2. What do you enjoy most about teaching?

Those ‘lightbulb’ moments when a student finally understands a new concept or skill.  Witnessing the process first hand, year after year, never grows old.

3. Years teaching?

This is my 16^th year with Vacaville Unified.

4. What do you do in your spare/free time?

Garden, read, hang out with my family.

5.  Fun fact – about you

Earlier this year, I earned a ‘Maker Educator’ certificate through CSU, Sonoma.

6. What does being a member of the Vacaville Teachers Association mean to you?

I can count on the VTA to support me 100%.  As a professional educator, I can rest easy in the knowledge that our association is ready to offer support in myriad ways; contract negotiations, conflict resolution, etc.

Bargaining update #3 and Independent Study Survey results

Last night, at the Solano County Board of Education Meeting, Vacaville Teachers Association Members, Vacaville Unified School Administrators, Vacaville Unified School District trustee Michael Kitzes, and concerned members from around Solano County stood together against the appeal of the Heritage Peak for-profit school to the Solano County Board of education.

“It was great to see,” said Tracy Begley, president of the Vacaville Teachers Association.  “When we stand together, we advance the cause of a high-quality public education for everyone in our community.”

In spite of being voted down twice by the Vacaville School Board for having an unsound educational program, most recently unanimously on June 29th of this year, Paul Keefer, CEO of the Pacific Charter Institute, argued to the Solano County Board that the rejection of his for-profit charter was unfair and asked the Solano County Board of Education to overturn the decision of the Vacaville Unified School District Board

In response to this, the VUSD Superintendent Jane Shamieh, VUSD Assistant Superintendent Kim Forrest, VUSD Board President Michael Kitzes, Principal of the Ernest Kimme Independent Study Program Lois Chancellor and a wide variety of educators, local leaders, and concerned community members packed the chamber to argue why Heritage Peak does NOT need to be part of the Vacaville Unified School District and urged the County Board to uphold the decision of the local board.

“There is nothing wrong with charters and parent options,” said Begley, “but Heritage Peak takes control of our local schools, away from our locally elected board while offering nothing we don’t already have with the Ernest Kimme Independent Study School.”

A final decision will be made by the County Board on September 13th at six pm.