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 not wired for half-effort. I believe in going all in, working hard, and earning the kind of exhaustion that comes from building something that matters. There is nothing better than lying your head down at night knowing you gave your people, your program, and your purpose everything you had.
I graduated from Fresno State University with a degree in Animal Science Production Management with an emphasis in Meat Science. For 24 years, I worked in HACCP, Food Safety, and Quality Assurance in the meat and nut industries with companies such as Harris Ranch Beef, Zacky Farms, Busseto Foods, and Campos Brothers Farms. I also provided consulting and auditing services for large-scale operations. Those years built my backbone — systems, standards, accountability, and results.
Alongside my corporate career, I owned and operated event, floral design, and photography businesses for over a decade. Building those businesses from the ground up strengthened my creativity, entrepreneurial mindset, customer service skills, and operational leadership — all of which now pour directly into my classroom and student enterprises.
But teaching?
Teaching built my heart.
My teaching journey began at Bakersfield Christian High School in 2019, where I stepped into a one-person agriculture department. I did not start the program — but I restructured it. I taught five different subjects across seven sections, including non-agricultural science courses, while earning my CTE credential and expanding curriculum offerings. I developed structured four-year pathways in Animal Science, Plant Science, AgriScience, and Agribusiness to bring clarity and direction to students, parents, counselors, and administration. Enrollment tripled, retention improved, and the program expanded to include a second teacher. That season sharpened my leadership and proved that strong systems create strong programs.
Today, I proudly serve at Highland High School, where I teach Floral Design I–III, Agricultural Government and Economics, Veterinary Science, and Animal Science.
I founded Petals & Plaid, our student-run floral enterprise that produces over 1,000 arrangements annually and operates like a real-world business — because students deserve real-world experience grounded in real accountability.
I also re-established and expanded the Highland High Sheep Breeding Program with one clear purpose: to breed and raise quality, affordable livestock projects so our students can show at the Kern County Fair without financial barriers standing in their way. The program provides hands-on, real-world experience in livestock production, reproductive management, and animal health while ensuring students have access to competitive, economically feasible show opportunities.
Since 2017, I have been breeding, raising, and training Hampshire, Southdown, Speckle, and Crossbred sheep alongside my daughter. It has been a wonderful and rewarding journey, and I love being a sheep mom.
I coach leadership. I build teams. I push students beyond what they believe they are capable of. From Floral and Veterinary Science to Parliamentary Procedure and Public Speaking, I expect excellence — and I provide the structure and support to help students reach it.
My guiding belief is simple: Work hard. Stay humble. Reap what you sow.
Life isn’t always easy. There has been good, bad, and ugly. But I believe even through tears, we can still find meaning and purpose in the process.
I am not perfect. I am driven, passionate, and sometimes a little intense — but I am deeply committed. Committed to growth. Committed to students. Committed to building something that outlasts me.
Every piece of this life — the good, the hard, and the messy — has shaped something beautifully worth it. This life is imperfect, and perfectly beautiful.
Welcome to my world.
“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 capacity to learn when provided with equitable access, intentional instruction, and an environment grounded in respect, accountability, and belonging. Effective teaching requires both clear instruction and thoughtful listening, recognizing students’ prior knowledge, experiences, and goals. Students enter higher education with diverse academic backgrounds and life experiences, and it is my responsibility to meet them where they are while maintaining high expectations that promote growth and success.
My teaching philosophy is rooted in experiential, outcomes-based instruction that aligns with clearly defined Student Learning Outcomes. I recognize that students learn in different ways, and I design coursework that incorporates hands-on laboratory experiences, inquiry-based learning, collaboration, and real-world problem solving. In agricultural science, learning extends beyond the classroom into applied settings where theory and practice intersect. By integrating scientific principles with industry-relevant scenarios, students develop technical competence, critical-thinking skills, and professional readiness.
Creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment is central to my instructional approach. I strive to cultivate a classroom culture where students feel valued, respected, and confident, engaging in academic risk-taking. Meaningful learning is strengthened through collaboration and professional communication, as these skills are essential to persistence, workforce success, and transfer readiness. I challenge students to take ownership of their education, engage actively in the learning process, and set high academic and professional standards for themselves.
My passion for agriculture and student development drives my commitment to teaching. The diversity of learners, traditional students, first-generation college students, career-focused students, and those seeking advancement enhances the learning community and informs my instructional practice. I consider it a privilege to prepare students not only with foundational agricultural knowledge but also with ethical decision-making skills, leadership capacity, and a global perspective on agriculture’s role in society.
I believe education extends beyond individual achievement to include service, stewardship, and responsibility to the broader community. I emphasize integrity, accountability, and servant leadership as guiding principles that foster professionalism and collaboration. My role as an educator goes beyond content delivery; it includes mentoring students toward long-term success and contributing positively to the learning environment and institutional culture.
Ultimately, my goal is to provide rigorous and relevant learning experiences that prepare students for careers, transfer, and lifelong learning. By integrating science, technology, communication, and leadership development, I aim to equip students with the skills necessary to adapt to a changing agricultural landscape and to make informed, responsible contributions to their professions and communities
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 - Three Successful Businesses.
Livestock, Floral, Events, and Photography
- California Certified Florist - 2025
- CA Delta - Graduate - 2024
- Ag Leadership Program- Certification.
The Zenith Group - 2017
- PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified
Individual) Certified-2016
- AIB (American Institute of Baking) Food Safety -2015
- SQF Advanced Practitioner Certified – 2014
- Advanced HACCP Certified – 2013
- OSHA General Standards 40- hour - 2013
- HACCP Certified – 1997
- Dale Carnegie -1994
Awards, Leadership, Milestones
- 2026 CATA Operations Division Secretary
- 2026 CATA Outstanding Young Teacher - Region
- 2026 CATA Outstanding Ornamental Horticulture Pathway - Section
- 2026 CATA Outstanding Five-Person Department - Region
- 2025 CATA Outstanding Ornamental Horticulture Pathway - Section
- 2024 CATA Outstanding Young Teacher - Section
- 2024 Golden Owl - Section
- 2024 CATA Outstanding One-Two Person Department - Region
- 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; she was 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 survive life as an agriculture teacher’s spouse deserves a medal of valor. It is not for the faint of heart. The long days, endless road trips, conferences, field days, leadership retreats, professional development, late nights, livestock checks, honey-do lists, more animals than most people are comfortable with, plants beyond borders, and the extra “kids” who seem to permanently live at our house — it’s a lifestyle.
And yet, the incredible man who stands beside me loves without limits. He supports the chaos, steadies the storms, and never hesitates to show up for our family — no questions asked. I could not do any of this without him.
We are the proud parents of three incredible adult children.
Our oldest son, Nathan, lives across the country serving in the United States Air Force. He is married to Hunter, and we are overjoyed to be welcoming our first grandbaby in March of 2026 — a new little blessing we already love beyond measure.
Our middle daughter, Peyton, is a successful television editor in the entertainment industry, building a career in a highly competitive field and making her mark through creativity and precision.
And my “mini me,” Lauren, is stepping into her calling as a doula while continuing to share my passion for agriculture. She is still fully in it with me on the sheep side and now coaches alongside me — and there is nothing quite like watching your own daughter teach, lead, and build confidence in others. It is one of my greatest joys. She is engaged to Nik, whom we love as if he were our own.
My family is the greatest gift of my life. They are my foundation, my constant, and the reason behind every ounce of work I pour into this world.
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. And I have water in spades.
The Three Amigos are 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 — even when they both moved to different parts of Texas (and not even close to each other!).
While we all love our families unconditionally, there is nothing quite 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, hold me accountable, and lift me up when I am weak. I am so blessed to call these incredible women my friends, my soul sisters.