This is Karen’s first year at iLEAD, although she is no stranger to independent studying. She was raised in Huntington Beach in the 80s, a decade she is convinced was the best for music and movies. She graduated from Vanguard University back in the nineties with a degree in English and then received a teaching credential from Chapman University. After teaching in the public school system for six years, Karen decided to stay home to fulfill her calling as a full-time mom; however, she couldn’t stay away from education for long! Soon after having her second child, she began tutoring students in writing and over time built up a strong roster of students whom she tutored. After independent studying her own children for a couple of years, Karen felt drawn to work in the charter world and began that journey in 2017.
While Karen has developed a recent fondness for Google sheets, her most favorite items are her Birkenstocks and a glass of Cabernet. Of all the many wonderful words that have been penned, one of her favorite quotes is “Not all those who wander are lost” by JRR Tolkien. Karen met her husband, who is also a teacher, on a cruise to Mexico, and they have three wonderfully wild kids. She and her family spend many a night watching Dodger games and hanging out in their jacuzzi. Karen has been so impressed with ilEAD’s support of teachers and students and is looking forward to many years of journeying alongside her learners.