Journey of a Lifetime

Many teachers earn their certification and teach in the same state, maybe even the same district, until they retire. My journey is different. I have been teaching for fourteen years, but in four different states: Arizona, Nebraska, Virginia, and Kentucky. While some teachers may not feel this is positive, I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to teach in so many places. Each new geographical change has transformed my writing and my writing instruction.

Although my teaching career began in Phoenix, Arizona, I grew up in Bremerton, Washington—a small city where the naval shipyards were a source of both pride and commercial activity. I graduated fifth in my class at Bremerton High School and could have chosen any profession, but at the time, I wanted to be a jazz saxophonist. I always envisioned myself as the next Kenny G or David Sanborn. As a result, I enrolled at the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. I took courses in jazz theory, rhythm, ear training, and sight reading. I even took English composition, which was, oddly enough, the only C I earned. However, my ambitions of making it in the music world quickly faded as I struggled to pay bills. I dropped out a year later and waited tables full time so I could eat on a regular basis.