Welcome to
Carmel Del Mar
Carmel Del Mar
STEAM+ SCIENCE
Welcome To My Class
I'm very excited to be returning to Carmel Dar Mar for my third year!
All About Me
This is will be my 12th year teaching science with the Del Mar Union School District. Prior to joining CDM, I spent eight years with Ashley Falls and one year of remote teaching with Launch. I began my career in 2001 with experiences at both middle school and high school levels. I have a BA from Indiana University and a Master's from National Louis University. I am originally from Chicago, Illinois. I speak Spanish, play guitar, and love the outdoors. I am married with three daughters, ages twelve, nine, and six. Please reach out if you have any questions!
Contact Information:
Student Expectations
This year across all grade levels lessons will be based on the three dimensional Next Generation Science Standards. For more information about these standards, click here. Three dimensional means that students will (1) develop Science and Engineering Practices, (2)make connections with Cross Cutting Concepts, and (3) dive into core ideas at each grade level. I typically organize the subject matter in the following manner: Life Science in the fall, Physical Science in the winter, and Earth Science in the spring. Throughout the year, we will engage in engineering challenges. The activities, investigations, and content hail from a wide variety of sources, including FOSS, the CA Academy of Science, the Exploratorium, Amplify, National Science Teachers Association, NASA, Mystery Science, the San Diego Zoo, and more. Let the adventure begin!
Educational Philosophy:
I believe all students are naturally curious about the world and therefore are natural born scientists. I believe it's my role to inspire as well as instruct. I strive to build relationships with my students based on respect and a genuine desire to see them succeed. I aim to develop an inclusive, student-centered environment for all learning styles, strengths, and backgrounds. I think learning is fun and intrinsically motivating. Finally, I've always subscribed to the philosophy that if you give a student a fish, they will eat lunch; if you teach them how to fish, they will eat for the rest of their life.