I like to compare the school year to solving a Sudoku puzzle. I always begin with anticipation and excitement. Then, I work on identifying the potential of each number, individually and collectively. Anyone who has worked on a Sudoku puzzle knows this next part is the challenge and requires diligence and perseverance. It also happens to be the part I love most - unlocking clues, looking at relationships between numbers, and completing a row or set, the little victories. When I finally finish the puzzle, it’s with a sense of exhilaration and accomplishment. For me, the heart of teaching is like Sudoku, it’s identifying the potential of each student, building relationships that allow us to learn and grow, and experiencing victories along the way. The 2020-21 school year will be my 25th as a teacher, 16 of those in 5th grade, and all in the Mountain View/Los Altos area. I earned my B.S.C. from Santa Clara University and my teaching credential from SJSU. My daughter and son attend college at University of Oregon and Oregon State, respectively. My stepdaughter and her husband live in Portland and we’ll be welcoming our first grandchild in August. I love hiking the Bay Area trails with my husband, baking for people, cheering on the SF Giants (I’m a huge fan!), and, of course, solving Sudoku puzzles.