To any outsider, it appears that I have always been preparing for a yearbook career. I created a neighborhood newsletter at age 11, interviewing the adults about their summer vacations and printing it on my father’s ditto machine in the garage. Eventually I joined the yearbook staff at California High School in San Ramon (in the dark ages, using a typewriter and paste up) and, with an English degree from the University of Southern California, I quickly launched into my 17-year teaching career at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego.

Those years in the classroom proved to be varied and allowed me opportunities to develop many skills that I still use today. I served as the School Improvement Program (SIP) Coordinator, created the school’s first Web Design class, taught AP English as well as Reading for Success, mentored first-year teachers in the BTSA program, and advised FreeFlight, the 500-plus page yearbook. Under my supervision, it won a Pacemaker, many Gold Crowns, and placed in the top 10 Best of Show at several JEA/NSPA conventions.

I also served as president of San Diego JEA, helping organize the national JEA/NSPA convention in Anaheim and then working as chairperson for the San Diego national convention in 2003. During the summers I taught at Herff Jones camps and judged for CSPA.