Here I am with my mentor, my Aunt Lee, on her 100th birthday. She lived to be a 102 and never stopped telling stories about the children in the three preschools she owned and operated until she retired in her late 70’s, or maybe it was her early 80’s. I was her first “credentialed” Kindergarten teacher. She’s watching over me now as I start yet another adventure…this blog!
This is my initial attempt at blogging and I am learning so much about what I don’t know about technology and myself! It’s all good though and I am blessed to now have time to share tips of the trade with my favorite people out there, TEACHERS. I discover, or remember, oodles of ideas daily as I continue to partner with all of your fabulous teachers out there.
What’s that you say, I thought you were retired? Well, I really have never understood that concept and actually prefer to use the term “rewired”. I know I will keep sharing and learning and growing until there is nothing out there for me to learn, and that means I could be around forever!
And, here’s a snapshot of me just in case you are curious…
Born and raised in a small town in Iowa, I began my teaching career at the University of Iowa Lab Preschool, taught 5 years in international schools in Kuwait and Greece, traveled around the world twice, returned to Tenafly, New Jersey for one year, received my MA in Educational Administration from Miami University in Ohio, and ended up in Orinda, California in the mid-70’s.
I have lived in the East Bay for many years now and have taught students at all grade levels K-6 and have trained, coached and mentored teachers K-12. I have also taught extension classes at Cal State and Saint Mary’s College in “Cooperative Learning” as well as “Teaching Strategies and Learning Styles” and have been an advisor for graduate students in the MATL program at Saint Mary’s. I spent the last 9 years before I “rewired” as a literacy and instructional coach for K-5 teachers in my district, Walnut Creek, and was a mentor and liaison for the BTSA program in our county. Currently I work with a team of mentors at Contra Costa County Office of Education in the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment program (BTSA), guiding our new teachers in both public and private schools during their first and second years in the profession. In addition, I am consulting with the staff of a charter school to define, create, and implement the best possible literacy instruction for their K-6 students. Every day I learn something new about being a great teacher and coach and now I have a venue for sharing all these fabulous tips of the trade and receiving great ideas back from you!
During my spare time I love to travel, especially to one of my favorite countries, Greece, and reconnect with friends, old and new, all over the U.S. I love returning to northern Iowa for our high school reunions as well as discovering new cities and countries in our amazing world. I cherish my time with my nieces and nephews and their families, thrive on movies and dinners with friends, massages, long bike rides, relaxing by the water’s edge, creating spiritual poetry, designing photo books for family and friends, reading the latest book club selections, and learning digital photography. It’s all about the journey and cherishing every moment.
Jan's Timely Tips for Teachers 