"I was born in New York City and raised in Mt. Vernon, New York. My love for reading and writing started at the young age of 8. However, my first poem was published many years later in 1980. I am now a retired elementary school teacher. My very first teaching job was in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where I lived for five years. In 1979, I moved back to Mt. Vernon, to continue my education. I received my Masters in Elementary Education/Remedial Reading from the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, New York. After receiving my MA, I taught Remedial Reading at a private alternative high school in Yonkers, New York for one year. Due to lack of funding for the next school year, I was told that my position as a reading specialist had come to an end. However, unafraid and excited to do something with my new Masters degree, I went to visit my twin sister in southern California. My visit lasted one year. I couldn't tear myself away from beautiful California and my new life. I traveled back to New York a year later, to pack up all my things and make a permanent move to California. I was hired as an elementary school teacher with the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1982. I took many educational seminars over the years while with the District, becoming more innovative in my classroom teaching techniques. I used different styles of creative techniques to enhance the learning in my classroom and to bring out the creativity innate in my young students.
In 2000, I attended an all day workshop for teachers led by Lucy Calkins, the founding director of the Teachers College Writing Project housed at Columbia University in New York City. It is a writers workshop for elementary to high school students in the New York City public school setting. Seen as brave innovators; Mrs. Calkins and her co-workers came up with a blueprint to enhance how to teach creative writing in the New York City public schools and was extremely successful. After the all day workshop, I stood in a long line with other educators to have her autograph my book. As she was signing my book, I asked her permission to use her outline to create a writing program for disadvantaged youth in southern California. She looked at me and said, "Yes, go for it and good luck."
I founded Write On! Workshop (W.O.W), a creative writing program for elementary to high school age students based on her prototype. I added some of my own perks to her already ingenious plan, and W.O.W took off. My team and I taught W.O.W as an after school program at the elementary school that I was teaching at; an alternative high school in Los Angeles and a youth detention juvenile camp in Malibu, California for over a period of five years. We had great success at each venue. My goal then and now, is to encourage young people who have writing abilities, but may not have a platform or voice to express themselves, to find one through the W.O.W program. They also have the possibility of having their stories; poems or essays published; which is every writer's goal.
I have gone on to publish my first book entitled, The Beautiful Evolving You: 365 Days of Bliss. I hope this little gem of a book will be a blessing and an inspiration for all who read it. Hopefully, the daily affirmations in "The Beautiful Evolving You" will encourage one to stay on the path to love, peace and happiness.
I have been a student of meditation for over thirty years and follow an Eastern philosophy. I respect and love all of my friends and family members irregardless of their religion, ethnicity or status. Through meditation, prayers, self- introspection, reading spiritual and uplifting material and befriending dynamic spiritual-healthy people, has led me to honor everyone, and see their inner beauty. This has led me to write my first book of inspirational thoughts for the young and the old.
I am happily married to a wonderful writer-husband of 28 years. We have two grown sons who also live in Southern California. I am currently working on my next book and also, editing my old manuscripts. I keep my ears, eyes and heart open for new story ideas where ever I am. May you keep evolving into your wonderful you, my friends...Stay blessed on your journey..."
In 2000, I attended an all day workshop for teachers led by Lucy Calkins, the founding director of the Teachers College Writing Project housed at Columbia University in New York City. It is a writers workshop for elementary to high school students in the New York City public school setting. Seen as brave innovators; Mrs. Calkins and her co-workers came up with a blueprint to enhance how to teach creative writing in the New York City public schools and was extremely successful. After the all day workshop, I stood in a long line with other educators to have her autograph my book. As she was signing my book, I asked her permission to use her outline to create a writing program for disadvantaged youth in southern California. She looked at me and said, "Yes, go for it and good luck."
I founded Write On! Workshop (W.O.W), a creative writing program for elementary to high school age students based on her prototype. I added some of my own perks to her already ingenious plan, and W.O.W took off. My team and I taught W.O.W as an after school program at the elementary school that I was teaching at; an alternative high school in Los Angeles and a youth detention juvenile camp in Malibu, California for over a period of five years. We had great success at each venue. My goal then and now, is to encourage young people who have writing abilities, but may not have a platform or voice to express themselves, to find one through the W.O.W program. They also have the possibility of having their stories; poems or essays published; which is every writer's goal.
I have gone on to publish my first book entitled, The Beautiful Evolving You: 365 Days of Bliss. I hope this little gem of a book will be a blessing and an inspiration for all who read it. Hopefully, the daily affirmations in "The Beautiful Evolving You" will encourage one to stay on the path to love, peace and happiness.
I have been a student of meditation for over thirty years and follow an Eastern philosophy. I respect and love all of my friends and family members irregardless of their religion, ethnicity or status. Through meditation, prayers, self- introspection, reading spiritual and uplifting material and befriending dynamic spiritual-healthy people, has led me to honor everyone, and see their inner beauty. This has led me to write my first book of inspirational thoughts for the young and the old.
I am happily married to a wonderful writer-husband of 28 years. We have two grown sons who also live in Southern California. I am currently working on my next book and also, editing my old manuscripts. I keep my ears, eyes and heart open for new story ideas where ever I am. May you keep evolving into your wonderful you, my friends...Stay blessed on your journey..."