I have been teaching in the Los Altos School District for 29 years.  During this time, I have taught 7th grade English and world history at Egan and 8th grade English as well as the electives creative writing, public speaking, and journalism at Blach.  During my junior year in college, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy.  It was here in Florence that I decided to become a teacher.  Reflecting on my educational experience, I realized I had not been taught how to really write until college, and this bothered me immensely.  This is what made me want to be an English teacher.  I love teaching my students how to write and seeing their growth as writers.  I also love teaching literature and challenging my students to think critically.  When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband, two daughters, and dog.  My hobbies include camping, hiking, running, biking, swimming, painting, traveling, and photography.  I also enjoy reading historical fiction, writing poetry, and baking sweets.