Introduction Letter

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio and lived there until I was about three. My family then moved to just outside of Atlanta, GA and I went to Kindergarten through the very beginning of second grade in the Cobb County school system. In the fall of second grade, my family moved back to Cleveland and settled in a small suburb called Hudson. I spent the rest of my childhood education in Hudson District Schools. When it was time to decide on a college to go to, I thought Ohio State was too obvious a choice, so some how I ended up going to Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. (Don't ask how, because to this day I'm still not exactly sure how that decision making process worked in my head. I'm not even sure there was a thought process about it.) Boone is in the mountains of the western part of the state, about 20 minutes from the Tennessee boarder and 30 minutes south of Virginia. (It's absolutely beautiful...you should all go visit!) After I graduated, I moved to Orlando and lived there for 3 years trying to get started in the hotel business. After getting a great start with a great company, I've realized that I actually kind of hate it (and hated living in Orlando), so I moved to San Diego about 3 months ago mostly to be closer to my family (that have all some how relocated out west) and also to change careers and go into teaching.

My experience with technology is pretty average I think. I used computers towards the end of high school, all through college, and ever since. I was on the yearbook staff my junior and senior years of high school and used Photoshop very heavily, but haven't used the program much sense. I think I have a pretty functional set of skills with different programs, because the various jobs I've had all seem to have different computer requirements. I've always been a PC user, but I bought my first Mac about 2 months ago, thanks to the nagging of my brother, an avid Mac supporter, and I love it. I am very surprised at how quickly I was able to convert systems. I am by no means a Mac expert, but I'm finding it very easy to adapt to.

To be perfectly honest, the College of Ed mission statement had absolutely nothing to do with why I chose to get my credential here. I knew I was moving to San Diego- Oceanside specifically. CSUSM was the closest credential program for me. At the time I applied, I was also working both a full time and a part time job, so I didn't really have time to research other options. My time became even more hectic when a transfer became available with my company out in San Diego, and if I accepted, I had to move and start in about two weeks. Having become a little more familiar of the COE Mission Statement, though, I really like the emphasis on a commitment to student-centered education. The primary purpose of schools should be to help students better themselves, and I think it's so easy for that to get lost in all of the federal and local mandates that school districts must adhere to. I think it's really important to remember that the student comes first and lessons plans should reflect and revolve around that.