about me

[Anonymous]

Hello all. I'm a bit late in joining the discussion. My name is Kyle Moody. Origionally from Maine I teach 9th and 12th grade English and 9th grade DRW. A fellow of the UCLA Writing Project, this is my third year in Los Angeles and my fourth year teaching. I work at University High School in West LA where aside from teaching I also advise the class of 2007, the GSA and the National Honor Society. I constantly am searching for new ways to hook kids on learning and I look forward to the many opportunities this trip presents. Here's to getting to know you all!

[Anonymous]

Hi, everyone. My name is Marisa Lerch, and I teach World History at Palo Alto High School. This is my 3rd year teaching at this high school. I have been highly interested in recent Chinese history for the past six years, and for that reason partook in the SPICE seminar at Stanford. The seminar then led me to an interest in Japanese, North Korean and Vietnamese history. I am inexplicably excited to travel with all of you this summer. I think it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! We are all so fortunate.

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

My name is Claudia Ruelas, I am a third year teacher at Fremont Middle School in Pomona Unified School District. I teach 7th and 8th grade GATE and regular ed. classes. I feel incredibily out of place after seeing such accomplished resumes listed but also very honored to be a part of such a distinguished group of educators. I am excited to join you for this year's trip to Asia and hope that I can learn much from the trip and all of your expertise combined.

See you in April!

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,
My name is LaRue Driscoll and I teach English and Social Studies at Robert Frost MiddleSchool in Granada Hills, California. I teach in the Magnet program and Frost MS is part of LAUSD. I have been teaching for twelve years.

I've spent the last two summers in Egypt which was truly incredible. I recently got married in December, so I've been busy planning a few big activities myself.

I think the trip to China and Japan will be absolutely fabulous. I just am hoping that in some way my perspective on life will change. I like to be surprised by life.

Look forward to conversing,
LaRue

[Anonymous]

Kyle,
I'm glad to see your post.
LaRue

[Anonymous]

Hi everybody
My name is Alice and I teach History at Eagle Rock High School. I've been teaching Medieval and Modern World History for the past six-point-five years! My kids are great, my classes are fun, my school is safe, my administrators are supportive... I'm a happy camper! (But I must say I'm REALLY looking forward to spring break!)
I'm sorry for the tardy introduction... But I can't wait to meet everybody face to face in April!

Hey Courtney! Remember me?? See you soon![Edit by="alee on Mar 28, 12:04:28 AM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I'm back on line after being laid up with some sort of flu bug. It's nice to see some new arrivals. Welcome to you all. I am completely fascinated with these discussion forums and find them to be a great outlet for intellectual discussion.

Just a few comments to the new arrivals. Claudia, I noticed you're in Pomona....I'm just down the way in Brea. We're sort of like neighbors. I think we were both at the recent calligraphy class at Anaheim USD last month. It's good to see you're on the trip.

Marisa, I share your strong interest in south and southeast Asia. I participated in a summer institute on Vietnam through the F.I.R.S.T. Institute at Cal State Fullerton and also studied the region's history while in college. I'm from Fresno and we have a particularly large Hmong population that sparked my interest in Laos and Vietnam. I look forward to some future disussions with you.

LaRue, I'm certain that your perspective will change by our experiences in Japan and China. The trip will allow us to reflect on our own lives, the American culture, and the world. I get chills just thinking about it. See you in Los Angeles.

Ana Mitchell

[Anonymous]

Wow! For whatever reason, I am just now gaining access to this part of the teaching forum. I have been responding to the Asia in My Classroom section, but have been unable to find the study tour forum. I feel so out of the loop, but will do my best to catch up on all the info.

I have enjoyed reading all about each of you and it sounds like we are going to have a very interesting, experienced, creative group of people on the study tour.

My name is Dana Ash and I am a third year teacher at Lawson Middle School in the Cupertino Unified School District which is located in Cupertino, a suburb of San Jose. Lawson is the fifth middle school in CUSD and opened its doors in Aug. 2005.

I currently teach 6th grade Core, Language Arts and Social Studies, and an exploratory public speaking and technology class. I am also the Journalism Club advisor and we have produced the school's first ever newspaper this year.

Previously, I was a newspaper photographer and graduated with a photojournalism degree from the University of Missouri. I am looking forward to this amazing opportunity to document our trip through photos and use the school newspaper as a forum.

I can't wait to meet all of you in a few weeks. Take care-Dana

[Anonymous]

Hi Linda-

I also worked at Ernst & Young for a few years. As a graphic designer though not a tax person, but what small world. See you in April-Dana

[Anonymous]

Hey there everyone!
Sorry I've been absent for a while as well. I've been pretty occupied as I'm sure you all have with test prep... We are trying many new strategies this year and being an EL coord. I'm responsible for much of it.
I am so excited to meet all of you in person. I think I've met a few of you before.. who all was involved in the Anaheim program? Or, who all attended the Calligraphy seminar in Anaheim?

[Anonymous]

It's kind of fun reading these mini-bios over again. I just finished watching a really bad movie about Asian-Americans. It's called "Harold and Kumar go to White Castle."
Anyway, it was great meeting everyone this weekend. What an awesome bunch of teachers! Special thanks to Clay, Linda, Venus, Sam, and our guest speakers. I can't wait for our reunion in June.
Have a great week,
Alice

[Anonymous]

Hi Alice,
I agree. I just reread over each one. Thanks for the idea.

And...thank you again Alice for giving the North Cal Crew a lift to LAX. You were so kind to help us out.
Nicole

[Author]

Posts