|
Additional Information |
| Adjunct Duties |
| Cheerleader Advisor |
| Academic Background |
| I completed my undergraduate work and credentialing at Cal State Long Beach. |
| Family |
| My family consists of my husband Darryl Ducharme, and our three girls, Olivia-15, Madeline-13 and Gabrielle-11. We also have two dogs, Lola and Lucky. |
| Why did you become a teacher? |
| I was inspired to become a teacher by my 3rd grade teacher. She made learning so much fun that I was sure teaching would be like staying in the 3rd grade for the rest of my life. Luckily for me that has been true. The year for me does not begin in January, it begins in September with the opening of school. Since I was old enough to start pre-school I have always entered a classroom in the beginning of September either as a student, aide or teacher. I enjoy working with people and helping them solve problems as well as encouraging them to seek out new ideas and information. |
| Years teaching? |
| The statistics say that teachers burn out on teaching special education after 5 years. I believe this is only true for the people that were never right for this type of work. While in college I began working with students with severe disabilities as an aide. When I completed my first credential I worked for two years as a high school English teacher. I was then offered a position working in a special day classroom and have been a part of special education ever since, that was 17 years ago. |
| Personal Comments/Quotes |
| "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
US essayist & poet (1803 - 1882) |
| Interests & Hobbies |
| Although I do enjoy my job I also have outside interests such as reading, traveling, and participating in my children's activities and sporting events. |
| Most memorable moment |
| Because we meet students only for a short period in each one's life, it is very hard to know if the work you do with them has a lasting effect. Once I did have a chance to learn from a former student that my efforts had made an impact on him years after he had left my room. This student had medical issues which made it difficult for him to function comfortably with regular education students. He told me that the confidence he gained while working with me for only one year had made it possible for him to move out to regular classes in high school and take on much greater challenges then he had been willing to attempt previously. This is the most significant thing I feel teaching can bring to a student. |
