Welcome to my story
The best part of the journey is the surprise and wonder along the way.- Ken Poirot
Surprise, it's me...
I am a full steam ahead individual who loves to work hard and dives in wholeheartedly. There is nothing better than going to bed exhausted, knowing you had a productive workday. I pour my heart into everything I do and take pride in the results of my efforts.
I have had the privilege of working in various agricultural sectors, but teaching is by far the most gratifying and rewarding job I have ever had. I graduated from Fresno State University with a BS in Animal Science Production Management and an Emphasis in Meat Science. Over the next 24 years, I specialized in HACCP, Food Safety, and Quality Assurance in the meat and nut industry, working for companies like Harris Ranch Beef, Zacky Farms, Busseto Foods, and Campos Brothers Farms. Additionally, I provided food safety consulting and auditing services for other large corporations. On the side, I owned and operated an event, floral design, and photography businesses for over a decade. For the past six years, I have been breeding, raising, and training Hampshire, Southdown, Speckle, and Crossbred sheep for meat, jackpots, and club lambs on a small scale with my daughter. It has been a wonderful and rewarding journey, and I love being a sheep mom.
My teaching journey began in 2019 where I began in a single person ag department. I taught five different subjects in six classes, two of which were non-agricultural science sections. Over the next two years, I worked on obtaining my CTE Credential and growing the program. I revamped the program by introducing new curriculum, and adding courses such as Ornamental Horticulture, Veterinary Science and CASE for AFNR. Additionally, I established four, four-year pathways to guide and educate our
administration, students, parents, and counselors. These pathways cover Animal Science, Plant Science, Agri Science, and Agribusiness. The results from the overhaul were remarkable. At the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, our freshman science class more than tripled in size, and experienced only a 10% retention loss leading into their sophomore year. The subsequent year, 2021-22, marked a launching pad for further growth as we added a second teacher to the program and introduced Intro to Agricultural Mechanics.
Today, we proudly offer ten UC-approved agriculture classes, including multiple sections of AFNR and Sustainable Biology.
I currently teach Sustainable Ag Biology, Leadership and Business, Advanced Animal Science, and Floral Design while rotating Veterinary Science and Ornamental Horticulture to meet AgEd pathways for completers. I also advise and coach floral, veterinary science, and parliamentary procedure teams, Chapter Degrees, State Degrees, American Degrees, and SAE Proficiencies. During the summer and fair season, I oversee activities related to sheep, goats, cattle, and horses. In the realm of public speaking, I coach students in prepared, extemporaneous, impromptu, and job interview categories.
The motto "Work hard and stay humble" has been ingrained in my mind since birth, and I firmly believe that we reap what we sow. I am a firm believer that everything in life happens for a reason, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. From tragedy comes purpose, and even through tears, one can find moments to say "hallelujah even here." I have a passion for leadership and am always seeking ways to improve myself as a wife, mother, teacher and friend. No matter how old we are, there is always something new to learn. As I have gotten older, I have learned that sometimes all we need to do is change our lens.
"Life is like an all you can eat salad bar, if you leave hungry, it's your own fault." - Tanya Love
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY IS EXTRA
Teaching Philosophy
I believe that every student has the potential to learn, provided that teachers are committed to both instructing and listening. The future of agriculture hinges on the knowledge, educational practices, and employable skills that we, as educators, have the privilege of imparting. I hold the conviction that each student is unique and deserves individualized attention. Through classroom activities, Supervised Agricultural Experiences, and FFA leadership roles, I strive to create a welcoming space in my classroom by fostering a safe and engaging environment.
I subscribe to the notion that learning styles vary based on individual abilities and interests. Learning can occur in any setting, and through inquiry, questioning, exploration, and problem-solving, students can achieve understanding. I advocate for a learning process that is both active and collaborative, with social interactions playing a pivotal role. It is essential for learners to feel secure, valued, and free to take risks. Moreover, I believe in challenging students, ensuring that each lesson is meaningful and captivating. For effective learning, students must take ownership of their educational journey and set high standards for themselves.
My passion for the agricultural industry, the lives of my students, and the potential impact I can make fuels my teaching philosophy. The diverse subjects I teach, the eagerness of my students to learn, their varied experiences, levels of understanding, and backgrounds present me with invigorating challenges. It is both a privilege and an honor to instill a global perspective within the industry I cherish, to convey the significant values of the agricultural world, and to highlight its influence on every individual life. Just as God created our world and called upon us to be stewards of the land, plants, and animals, our actions as conscientious stewards can foster faith in one another, exemplify accountability and responsibility, and contribute to serving others. Servant leadership is something I hold dear.
These relationships further motivate me to emphasize to my students, their overarching responsibilities to themselves. My duty extends beyond the classroom to the students’ families and our community at large. I am committed to inspiring my peers in the profession and to effectuating positive change within my classroom, my school, and the broader community.
I am committed to ensuring that all my students grasp the critical role agriculture plays in advancing our world while preparing students for careers and a lifetime of informed choices. My goals as a teacher are to provide my students with learning experiences which will allow them to not only demonstrate basic agricultural competencies, but to demonstrate work ethics, analyze, expand their leadership and participatory skills, set career objectives, apply their learning skills to reading, writing, thinking, mathematics, communicating, listening, studying, and explore new technology. Most of all, I hope to create a pattern of lifelong learning.
Background
Twenty four years of industry experience; Meat Science, Animal Science, Further Processing, Nut Processing, Safe Quality Food Auditing, USDA, FDA, FSMA and GFSI Compliance, HACCP, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Product Specifications, Laboratory, Floral Industry, wholesale, retail, product lines and rentals.
- Event Planning, Design, Marketing and sales.
- Entrepreneur - Two Successful Businesses;
Floral, Events and Photography
- CA Delta - Graduate - 2024
- Ag Leadership Program- Certification;
The Zenith Group - 2017
- HACCP Certified – 1997
- Advanced HACCP Certified – 2013
- PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified
- Individual) Certified-2016
- SQF Advanced Practitioner Certified – 2014
- AIB (American Institute of Baking) Food Safety -2015
- OSHA General Standards 40 hour -2013
- Dale Carnegie -1994
Awards, Leadership, Milestones
- 2024 CATA Outstanding Young Teacher - Section
- 2024 Golden Owl - Section
- 2024 CATA Outstanding One-Two Person Department - Region
- 2024 CATA Outstanding One-Two Person Department - Section
- 2023 CATA Outstanding One-Two Person Department - Section
- 2023 Teacher of the Year - Bakersfield Christian High School
- 2022 CATA Outstanding One-Two Person Department - Section
- 2022 San Joaquin Star Advisor Award
- 2021 Golden Owl Award - Section
- 2021- 2024 CATA SV Officer
- 2019-2021 - South Valley Sectional Advisor
- 2019 - Career change- began teaching
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, EVENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
My bookends - my heart
MY HERO
A special education teacher for over 40 years, my mom paved the way for children with special needs by designing a program to teach children how to sit, stand, and walk, along with providing specialized training equipment. Her program was implemented worldwide and translated into over 27 languages. She discovered her calling early in life and fought to instill hope and dignity in her students. She shared a profound connection with her students, one that couldn't be explained but only felt when observing her interactions with them. It was the light in their eyes that conveyed their stories, not their words. Her aspiration was to help all children transition from bean bag chairs to bearing their own weight and eventually walking. My mom was not just a teacher but also a leader, innovator, and entrepreneur. This incredible woman is at the core of my heart, my source of inspiration, and the driving force in my daily life. Everything I am, I attribute to her. If I can embody even a fraction of her talent and compassion, then I am truly blessed.
MY LIFE
Any person who can live the life of an agriculture teacher's spouse should be given the Presidential Medal of Honor! It is a hard life, to say the least. But the incredible man who stands beside me loves without bounds! He puts up with unending school road trips, conferences, field days, professional development, leadership retreats, unlimited projects, honey-do lists, more animals than he is comfortable with, plants beyond borders, and extra children everywhere. Yet even with all of this, he is always there for our family - no questions asked.
We are the proud parents of three incredible adult children. Our oldest lives across the country, serving in the United States Air Force. Our middle daughter is enjoying her last couple of months in college, ready to graduate and head out into the entertainment industry as a film editor. Lastly, my mini me… is currently in college working on her business degree and shares my passion for everything agriculture! I was so blessed to share in her high school agriculture journey not only as her mom, but as her advisor and teacher!
My family is the most important and valuable gift in my life - they are my heart, and the reason for every breath I take.
Hey Sister, Soul Sister...
As an only child, I have always said that while blood is thicker than water, we all need water to survive. I have water in spades! The Three Amigos, shown on the left, is a best friend forever trio that has lasted over 40 years. Through thick and thin, we have weathered life together; the good, the bad, and the ugly, and we have made it through the sands of time. We have never lost touch, have been present for every major life milestone, and there is no distance too far to keep us apart. While we all love our families unconditionally, there is nothing like a best friend. We surround ourselves with those who inspire us, bring out the best in us, and believe in us. Meet my bookends, the women who keep me honest, accountable, and hold me up when I'm weak. I am so blessed to call these amazing women my friends, my soul sisters.