A little about me

Who would have known back in 2004, when I began teaching bilingual Kindergarten at Bardin, that I would begin a fantastic voyage that would take me to see and experience so many places so distinct from each other.  Since I began, I have had the privilege of working with students' families and school communities for more than 20 years in a variety of roles, including teacher, assistant principal, and principal.  Yet no matter where my path led, Alisal never truly left my heart. Even while working elsewhere, I would often catch myself saying “we” when talking about Alisal, as though I had never left at all. 

There has always been something special about this community. Much of my inspiration comes from the resilience of our families, the heart of our educators, and the deep shared belief that every child deserves to feel valued, supported, and celebrated.  After all, isn't that what we would all hope for our younger selves, and for the generations that follow us? 

The first 17 years of my career were spent in Alisal while my children were still school-aged. They also attended our schools.  Eventually, after my children left for college, my mother came to live with me. As her dementia progressed, I made the difficult decision to relocate to Northern California, hoping that the familiarity of her home community would bring her comfort and stability. Unfortunately, her condition continued to worsen. Later, an opportunity in Bakersfield allowed me to serve as a principal while also accessing stronger resources and support for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Fast forward to today, and once again, life called me to make decisions regarding my mother's care and well-being. While attending the CISC conference in Monterey, my heart was filled with such pride seeing our students perform.  The longing for the goodness that is in Alisal prompted me to visit a care home in Salinas that immediately felt right for my mother. Although at the time there were no open positions in Alisal, her safety and quality of life had to come first. I prepared myself for the possibility of commuting on weekends to visit her in Salinas while relying on my daughter and son-in-law, who also live in Salinas, to visit her until I could eventually return.  This move for her was grounded in my belief that all things happen for reasons at different times in our lives.

Sometimes life has a beautiful way of bringing us back when we least expect it. As providence would have it, I was blessed with the opportunity to join Monta Bella as assistant principal during the very same period my mother was transitioning into her new home.

Returning to Alisal feels deeply full circle for me. I am incredibly grateful to once again be part of a community that believes so strongly in collaboration, compassion, culture, and the limitless potential of children. Every place and every person I encountered during my years away helped shape who I am today, and I carry those lessons and relationships with me with great gratitude.

At the heart of it all, I believe we are all united by something simple yet powerful: a shared commitment to children, to family, and to creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and connected. That common purpose is what drew me back, and it is what makes me so honored to continue this journey alongside everyone here!