I grew up in the East Bay and received my BA and Teaching Credential from Saint Mary's College in Moraga. At Saint Mary's I majored in Liberal Arts and minored in Government and Theater Arts. I started my career in the Diocese of Oakland in 1986. In 1989 I left the diocese and started a private school in Oakland with three other teachers. I was there for 21 years and returned to the diocese in 2010. I served on the school board of Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School for 6 years and have been a member of six WCEA/WASC accreditation teams for schools in the Diocese of Oakland. I have been on the diocesan finance board and the staff development committee of the diocese. I have been married for 32 years and have three grown children and 3 grandsons.