First job as an educator: “I teach U.S. Government and U.S. History. I worked about 11 years in Shoshone, California and 23 here in Pahrump. I went through a teacher corps program here. I graduated from college and got my Masters through that program. Basically it teaches people how to become teachers.”

Arrival in Nevada: “I have lived here since 1975. I love the fact that it is still kind of a small town even though when I came here in ’75 it was much smaller. I still liked it a little better back then. I think all small towns go through a growing period but sometimes it might be too fast or even too slow.”

Motivation for becoming an educator: “It was my fifth grade reading teacher Mrs. Frawley. She was really one of the nicest teachers I’ve ever had. There was an elementary school back in Iowa and she was just the sweetest thing ever. She was the one who inspired me to become a teacher.”

Pearls of wisdom for students: “If you find a career that you really like to do, you won’t have to get up in the morning and dread going to work. You won’t think of that job as a job. It’s very simple. If you pick a career that you enjoy what you do, you will never have to get up and go to a job that you don’t really love.”

Toughest challenges facing teachers: “I have a very large number of students but we all have large numbers. The good thing is once you get them started and get them interested in what you are doing then they will be fine.”

Advice for individuals wanting to pursue a career in education: “I think anybody that has a parent who is a teacher has probably heard you are not going to make a lot of money. A lot of people think that we have this wonderful three month vacation but usually you are going to school to renew your certificate. You don’t go into teaching for the money. You have to look at it as passing civilization onto the next generation because they have to know not only math, science, and everything like that. They also have to know how to be good citizens and you learn that especially in social studies.”

Leisure time: “I just got a new iPad. I also like reading history books and enjoying the summer. Basically in August, you are planning for the next year. I’m always on the computer looking for new ideas to make class a little bit more exciting for my students. My parents and my sister also live here in Pahrump.”