For more than 23 years I have proudly lived and taught in Bridgeport, Washington, located in North Central Washington on the Columbia River in the Okanogan Valley. Known for its orchards and apples, it is a small, rural, agricultural community largely dependent upon a migrant, agrarian labor force. Here I have taught high school English, college English, AP psychology, journalism, and honors courses. I earned my Bachelor and Master degrees in English at Eastern Washington University, and I am currently completing my administrative credentials so that I can have a greater impact on student learning and program development.

Since 2006 I have been a member of the Writing Assessment Leadership Team (WALT) for the state of Washington. I have also worked with the state's alternative assessments. All of these experiences have enabled me to return to my district to work as the district writing specialist and to train teachers in best practices and writing strategies.

Bridgeport is a very rural community and access to higher education courses was limited. I developed a college in the high school English program in cooperation with the closest community college, Wenatchee Valley College, where I teach four different English courses and Bridgeport students are able to earn actual college credit. In addition to this, I am one of the first teachers to begin an Advanced Placement program in Bridgeport School District.

My focus is to equip every student for college. I believe that with persistence and preparation Bridgeport High School will continue to work to prepare its students and give them greater access to higher education. As educators, we must develop life-long learners. The formula for success is the belief that rigorous preparation and persistence are fundamental building blocks for student achievement. I want to be a part of establishing equity policies at the local, state and federal level. I am committed to working with issues of equity, so much so that I was a presenter at the National AP Equity Colloquium in Los Angeles, California in March 2009.

I have been a leader in my school and community for over 23 years, and the time and energy I have put into my position and students has paid off in positive relationships with my students and with the Hispanic community at large. My goal is to educate these young people and give them the tools and opportunities they need to seek higher education and to break the cycle of poverty. Most of my students are not only first generation in the United States, but also first generation to graduate from high school. As I help them learn to live in the American culture, they too teach me a great deal about living in a Hispanic community in Bridgeport. In addition to my work as an educator, I volunteer in my community as one of the local EMTs for Bridgeport Fire & Ambulance. This volunteer work allows me to give back to my community and to help the people living in it. I am highly visible in this role, and I have made a special connection with the people of my community through this experience; I know how they live and share their life experiences.