About Me

Hello Los Alamitos 7th graders & families!

My name is Tamara Copeland and I am very honored (and excited) to be here at McAuliffe Middle School to serve your families in my 23rd year of teaching. I earned my B.A. in philosophy from the coastal, redwood campus of UC Santa Cruz and received my California Teaching Credential from Concordia University, Irvine back in 1994. I am a capstone away from my Masters in Education (emphasis on Curriculum & Instruction) and in the middle of a Masters of Theology at the Franciscan School of Theology in Oceanside, CA.

Previously, I taught in Huntington Beach for Huntington Beach City School District and the Diocese of Orange, so I have experience in both public and parochial education. I have also worked in several GATE and Inclusive Education classrooms. I am a longtime Huntington Beach local and enjoy my daily commute on PCH. It really is beautiful!

I am the proud mother of two great humans, Haley (22) and Max (19). My daughter, Haley, just graduated from Oregon State University in Human Development and Family Sciences with a minor in Education. Next fall, she will begin her masters program in High School Counseling at Portland State University. My son, Max, plays soccer for OCC and is studying History to become a high school history teacher.

Every morning, I am happy to come to work because truly I love what I do and eagerly welcome the challenges that accompany each new year with my students. I am a kid at heart--so middle school is a comfortable environment for me. In my free time, I enjoy being a mom (visiting my daughter in Oregon or watching my son play soccer), listening to ALL types of music, cooking meals for my family & friends, taking walks on the beach, reading random books--usually several at a time, and stretching my brain in various graduate classes.

Here's to another year of great possibilities at McAuliffe Middle School!

Yours truly,

Tamara Copeland