Biography

 

I was born in El Centro and raised in Banning, California where I attended Banning High School. I was offered several athletic scholarships to play college basketball, but after much consideration, I chose the University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque. During my four years there, I played over 100 games and became a member of the “1,000 points/ 500 rebounds” club. More importantly, however, I walked away with a Bachelor’s degree.

After college, I was drafted to the Columbus Horizon Basketball Club in the Continental Basketball Association. I also attended professional basketball tryouts in Chicago, Washington and Dallas. After months of tryouts and failed trade talks, I found myself back in Albuquerque. I began working as a laborer in a construction firm, where I eventually moved my way up to the position of labor foreman. I worked on several major commercial construction projects, but after eight years in the business, I felt I needed a change. The projects were rewarding, but I wasn’t being challenged mentally.

During my time as a college basketball player, I often visited schools speaking and working with young athletes. I also spent two of my summers in Pittsburg, volunteering at one of the nation’s most prestigious high school basketball camps. I found myself enjoying the work I was doing with children, so I decided to withdraw my retirement funds and go back to school full time to earn my teaching credential.

I earned my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Diego State University in 1999. Upon completion I was hired as an elementary school teacher where I have remained for the past eight years. I pursued a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology (EDTEC) because I strongly believe it plays a crucial role in the K-12 classrooms both today and in the future. The instruction and knowledge I have acquired from my EDTEC experience empowers my teaching and provides me with opportunities to create more successful programs of study for my students.

It is increasingly important to differentiate instruction in the classroom. The growing demand to accelerate student achievement requires assessing student performance and delivering appropriate instruction and intervention. My education in the EDTEC field allows me to analyze the performance needs of my students. It also helps me develop programs to close the needs gap and evaluate the successes or failures of my instruction every step of the way. The research and evaluation process also offers me tools to make informed decisions on what type of media is the most effective method of delivering content.

The knowledge gained from my experience in EDTEC will guide my teaching today and into the future.