Staff Profiles

What do you teach or do on this campus? Physical education.

Who is your favorite celebrity? Matt Damon.

If you could have anything in the whole entire world, what would it be? World peace.

What is your dream vacation? Two weeks in the Bahamas.

Describe a perfect date. March 22nd.

What do you like most about your job? Working with kids.

What college did you go to? Describe your most memorable moment. UCLA. I was competing on track and field teams agianst USC.

What is your favorite dish? Dessert? Pizza and ice cream.

Who was the weirdest guy/girl you've ever dated? Kathleen Trommald in high school.

Which actor/actress would you never go out with? Madonna.

What is your favorite midnight snack? Chocolate chip cookies and milk.

Are you a night owl or a morning person? Both. I don't sleep much.

What are the 5 most important things in your life? My faith in Christ Jesus my Lord, my marriage, my son, my extended family, and my friends and co-workers.

What is the one thing that you love the most about yourself? I'm not that crazy about myself. Maybe my patience?

Do you miss your childhood? Sometimes when I get very busy.

What do you teach on this campus? Chemistry/AP Biology

Who is your favorite celebrity? My nephew Chris, who is the lead singer and writes all of the songs for the group Melee. He may not be very famous yet, but just wait.

If you could have anything in the whole entire world, what would it be? I assume that you mean after wealth and world peace and all that boring stuff. I would like to have my current knowledge and experience, but to have my 19 year old body back... Look out world.

What is your dream vacation? Fly-fishing the worlds great trout/salmon streams in Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, New Zealand, etc.

Describe a perfect date. Fly-fishing the worlds great trout/salmon streams with my wife.

What do you like most about your job? I love the expression that comes over a students face when they finally get it! That A-ha moment. I never get enough of that.

What college did you go to? Describe your most memorable moment. Lots of them. Cerritos community college, CSUF (degree in biology), UCI (teaching credential), UCLA School of Dentistry (DDS). My most memorable moment was when a classmate in Dental School was giving a patient an injection for the very first time an stuck the needle clear through his cheek and out to the other side of his face. I was working next door and one could hear his patient swearing four aisles away. It was hilarious.

What is your favorite dish? Dessert? Pot Roast. On a cold night with potatoes and gravy mmmm. For desert coffee ice cream on warm brownie.

Which judge on American Idol are you most like? Explain. People who watch reality TV need to get a life. Just kidding. But seriously I don't watch it so I can't answer.

Who was the weirdest guy/girl you've ever dated? Actually I didn't date that much since I got married at 21. All of my dates were pretty normal (not to mention pretty).

Which actor/actress would you never go out with? Anyone who smokes.

What is your favorite midnight snack? Fried Chicken.

Are you a night owl or a morning person? Definitely a night owl.

What are the 5 most important things in your life? Family, family, family, family, and fly-fishing.

What is the one thing that you love the most about yourself? My sense of humor, and that I am not afraid to laugh at myself.

Do you miss your childhood? I miss certain things, like playing football, but overall...no, I happy with where I am in life.

What high school and college did you graduate from? HS: Poway High School in San Diego; College: UCSB

Most inspirational advice you've been given or given someone else? A goal without a plan is a dream

What was your first job? Babysitting and then working for a bagel shop

Have you gotten a ticket for speeding? yep.

Do you dance like crazy when no one is looking? Is so, to what song? No. I can't dance

Turn offs or ons about the opposite sex? Arrogance and no sense of humor

Do you wash your car or take it to a car wash? Both

What would you do with $10 million? Pay off my house and car and student loans, give money to my family to pay off their homes and cars, buy Mr. Voeller a plane, set aside money for my children to go to college, get obedience lessons for my dog, set up a scholarship for seniors at GGHS, donate money to save the environment and animals and go on a long vacation with my family

What your favorite ice cream flavor? Mint chocolate chip/peanut butter and chocolate

How did you feel when your first began teaching? Overwhelmed. I cried everyday after school.

What is the first thing you do after you wake up in the morning? Brush teeth

Who's singing voice did you wish you had and why? Enya because her voice is soothing and relaxing

What high school and college(s) did you graduate from? Major?

What/Who inspired you to being teaching? How did you feel when you first started teaching? Constrast that feeling to your feelings now?

I actually wanted to be a journalist when I started college, but I hated interviewing people. I fell into teaching since I loved to read and write and had no idea what else to do. Luckily I ended up falling in love with the profession.

Best part about teaching? I love the interactions with my students. They make my day interesting, entertaining and always different from the previous day.

By far, what has been the most creative project you've assigned to your classes? One of the most memorable was when my seniors read two poems "The Passionate Shepherd" and "The Nymph's Reply" and I had them write a modern day skit that captured the essence of both poems. They acted it out in front of their class and I video taped them and we later watched the skits. The skits were super creative and a good amount of students dressed up and really got it character!

Thinking back to high school, what was the most stressful time of school? Definitely finals. Each exam I complete felt like a million pounds were lifted off my back.

If you were given a time capsule, what would you do with it? Place all of my students' essays in it and let them come back and see how they wrote "u" instead of "you"

What lesson did you have to learn the hard way? Fairy tale happy endings might not always happen the way you imagine, but it will happen.

What is your most embarrassing moment? It happened last week! In my 5th period class, I was wearing a dress and I had left a stack of interactive readers on the floor. Being the clutz that I am, I walked backwards, forgetting the stack was there, and fell backwards landing on my butt with my legs in the air. Luckily I had on panty hose and I instinctively closed my legs in mid-fall!

What was your first job? I worked at Red Eye at The Block.

What was the worst job you had? In high school, my mom and dad owned a seafood store and I would have to drive twenty minutes after school to get there and scale and gut fish all evening long.

Have you ever been fired? Is so, why? Of course not!

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? I would definitely want to read minds.

Have you ever gotten a ticket for speeding? Did you fight it or just pay it? Yes, one. I fought it but sadly I lost and had to pay $350!

Do you dance like crazy when no one is looking? If so, to what song? Absolutely! I'm a huge Britney Spears fan but right now I'm super into the Kesha and Lady Gaga albums

Can you remember your last dream? If so, what was it about? I had a dream a ghost was chasing me all around campus... I always tend to dream about ghosts after I watch Ghost Hunters.

What scares you the most and why? Ghosts scare me to death (no pun intended) so I'm REALLY glad I didn't get stuck in the Heritage Hall building.

Would you consider yourself old-fashioned? No, I'm very liberal. Equality for ALL.

Favorite movie of all-time and why? Embarrassingly enough... Mean Girls because it's hilarious and that stuff really does happen in high schools.

What would you do with 10 million dollars? Live on an island and have 6 kids with maids and butlers taking care of my friends and family.

What high school and college did you graduate from? Parkway West Senior High school; Georgia State University, Chapman University

What has been the most creative project you have assigned in your classes? Maybe the Salem Witch Trial

 What was your first job? Warehouse Work

Have you gotten a ticket for speeding? Yes

Turn offs or ons about the opposite sex? I'm still learning

What makes you bored? Answering questions

What was the worst punishment you had as a child? All of them

If you could be any celebrity, who would you be and why? A member of the Grateful Dead- who is still living

If you could remake any old television show, who would you cast and why? I would bring back Carnival just as it was.

Do you collect anything? Is so, what and why? My Rudolph the Reindeer figurines

What would you do with $10 million? I'll never have it so, no answer

What your favorite ice cream flavor? All of them

How did you feel when your first began teaching? Scared- Just like now

What is the first thing you do after you wake up in the morning? Stretch

What high school and college did you graduate from?  I graduated from Gilbert High School in Gilbert, Iowa; Got my BA from Bethel College in St. Paul, MN, and my MA from the University of Northern Colorado.

What subject do you teach?  I teach English 10

Are you married or single? I am happily married

Most inspirational advice you've been given or given someone else?  My older sister told me in 5th grade that people can only make fun of me and embarrass me if I allow them to.  I think this accounted for my confidence and healthy self-esteem growing up.

What qualities make a model student? Someone who is committed and works hard.

What has been the most creative project you have assigned in your classes? I once had a class of freshmen create their own self-governed society.  We were reading Lord of the Flies.

What lesson did you have to learn the hard way?  You can’t go 60 mph down a gravel road and expect to turn a curve marked 25 mph.  You will crash into a guard rail.

What was your first job?  Hostess at the Olive Garden

What was your worst job? How so?  I cleaned houses one summer when I was in college.  Cleaning other peoples’ bathrooms are disgusting.

Have you ever been fired? yes.

Have you gotten a ticket for speeding?  yes.

Do you dance like crazy when no one is looking? Is so, to what song?  I dance like crazy all the time – especially with my kids ☺  We like
“Mysterious Ways” by U2 and “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson

-What was the worst punishment you had as a child?  spanking with a leather belt

If you could be any celebrity, who would you be and why? I would be whomever George Clooney is dating.

If you could remake any old television show, who would you cast and why?

I would re-do Gilligan’s Island with the following cast:
Gilligan – Chris Rock
Skipper – Mr. T
Mary Ann – Oprah
Ginger – Angelina Julie
Professor – Stephen Hawking
Millionaire – Bill Gates and his wife

Do you wash your car or take it to a car wash?  My fabulous husband washes our cars

What would you do with $10 million? I would pay off all our debt, give most to church and charities, invest enough to live on comfortably for the rest of our lives, set up college funds for my kids, and set up scholarships for deserving Argos.

What your favorite ice cream flavor?  Mint Chocolate Chip

How did you feel when your first began teaching?  Frustrated and confused, but hopeful

What is the first thing you do after you wake up in the morning?  Press the snooze.

Who's singing voice did you wish you had and why?  Ella Fitzgerald. She has a voice like silk.

What high school and college did you graduate from? Beaverton High School, Beaverton, Oregon, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon

What subject do you teach? Educ. history:  18 years teaching  2nd, 4th, 5ht & 6th grades . 7 years as counselor at Intermediate level, 13 years at GGHS as a counselor. 2 years part time at Community College.

Are you married or single? Married to Christopher Real

What qualities make a model student? Energetic, curious, thoughtful, passionate, motivated, supportive of others, and ability to laugh at themselves.

What lesson did you have to learn the hard way? That my tongue gets me in trouble more than any other part of my body.

What was your first job?  I picked strawberries  one summer.

What was your worst job? How so?  I worked in a convalescent home and helped do 1000lbs. of wash each day. Yuck!

Have you gotten a ticket for speeding?  NO

What makes you bored?  Paperwork and lectures.

What was the worst punishment you had as a child?  My first grade teacher pulled me by the ear into a corner because I was talking.

If you could be any celebrity, who would you be and why?  Ellen Degeneres. She is funny, kind, and well-respected.

Do you wash your car or take it to a car wash?  Usually, I wash it myself.

What would you do with $10 million?  I would pay off our mortgage, remodel the house, travel, and share with my family and friends.

What your favorite ice cream flavor?  Coffee

How did you feel when your first began teaching?  I was anxious, optomistic, and unprepared .

What is the first thing you do after you wake up in the morning?  Walk for an hour.

What high school and college did you graduate from? Troy High School, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

What subject do you teach? English

Are you married or single?  In between; joking! I’m single.

Most inspirational advice you've been given or given someone else? “Never give up.”

What qualities make a model student? A model student is thoughtful, diligent, hard working, and makes the “extra” effort.

What has been the most creative project you have assigned in your classes? Last year, I had my students create a commercial to sell a common household product. They were awesome! I was completely blown away by their creativity.

What lesson did you have to learn the hard way? Not everyone can do what they most love forever.

What was your first job? I was a Math Tutor.

Have you ever been fired? No. Thank God.

Have you gotten a ticket for speeding?  Yes, unfortunately I did. I begged and pleaded to get out of it, but the officer would hear nothing of it; the only thing he responded with was “My gift to you is online traffic school”. Joy!

Do you dance like crazy when no one is looking? Is so, to what song? Yes, of course. Madonna’s “Vogue” is one of my favorites.

Turn offs or ons about the opposite sex?  Turn On: A nice smile , Turn Off: Bad breath

What makes you bored?  I do NOT get bored; boredom is a luxury. It hasn’t crossed my path in years.

What was the worst punishment you had as a child?  My parents washed my mouth out with soap.

If you could be any celebrity, who would you be and why?  I would want to be Princess Diana by day and Madonna by night.

If you could remake any old television show, who would you cast and why?  I would remake “I Love Lucy” and cast Enrique Iglesias as Ricky, Tina Fey as Lucy, myself as Ethel, and Brad Pitt as Fred.

Do you collect anything? Is so, what and why?  I love to collect old antiques: furniture, dishes, and little mementos; I’m obsessed with the history behind them! It has hurt my wallet of late.

Do you wash your car or take it to a car wash?  Car wash, please.

What would you do with $10 million?  I would buy a house, go shopping for more shoes, and take my students to Europe for a semester. We would have English class on a gondola. J I would drive it.

What your favorite ice cream flavor?  Jamoca Almond Fudge

How did you feel when your first began teaching?  I was petrified, but I tried to have a sense of humor.

What is the first thing you do after you wake up in the morning?  I throw caffeine on myself hoping it will “soak” in. Apparently, it hasn’t worked. Just kidding… I actually turn on the TV and listen to the news for about 10 minutes.

Who's singing voice did you wish you had and why? Contrary to popular belief, I would really like to be able to sing like Celine Dion. I think she has the voice of an angel. If I couldn’t sing like her, Madonna would be the next best thing! J

What subject do you teach? Biology

Most inspirational advice you've been given or given someone else? Try not to make choices that will limit your future options.

What qualities make a model student? A model student is one who gets extra help when they don’t understand something. I only get 54 minutes a day to teach a concept many of which are very complex, and for many students they need more time than that to let it all sink in. Unfortunately, very few students take any extra time to study/do homework and try to understand themselves, or to see me, or go to homework club, or ask an older sibling, or work with a tutor to get the extra help they need.

What has been the most creative project you have assigned in your classes? When teaching at another school we had student build cars that could run down a ramp and into a barrier. Students had to create safety system that could protect the passenger egg.

What lesson did you have to learn the hard way? I was an athlete in high school and I cared more about practice and weightlifting then school. Please don’t get me wrong…Athletics is extremely important, and I learned things by participating in team sports you just can’t get in a classroom, but I regret not being eligible to attend a university right out of high school. Had I not had to spend three years in community college I could have started my career three years earlier making more money now…I could have met my wife three years earlier…bought a house three years earlier etc.

What was your first job? I worked in the food stands at Anaheim Stadium. When I started, my job was to fill the giant condiment jugs around the stands, that was not a lot of fun! But eventually it got better and I worked all over the stadium: scooping ice cream, making hot dogs and nachos, baking cookies and cinn-a-buns and serving drinks. It was because of this job that I have only recently begun to enjoy baseball, although I always wanted the Angeles to win, because then there was no bottom of the 9th inning and I got to leave early!!!

If you could be any celebrity, who would you be and why? Albert Einstein! He was very smart. In his time, he was one of the most well known people in the world. And even today his name and likeness makes millions of dollars a year. (Donated to charity)

What would you do with $10 million? If I had ten million dollars I would put some away for my child’s education and their children’s education, then I would remodel my house to give my family a little more room. I would give some money to each of my family members, and the high school and university I graduated from. I would also give some money to GGHS to start a scholarship fund and some money to help the athletic department.