"My name is Toni. I am not a teacher in a school system, however, I do have a lot of teaching experience. I have been involved with helping others since I was in Junior High school (which was quite some time ago). I first started by helping kids in elementary school with reading and later worked in a Pre-School Day Care while completing high school.

After completing high school I went into the Air Force, where I spent a number of years as an Aereomedical Evacuation Technician. I was also an Instructor and Instructor Trainer for CPR as well as an Instructor for Special Equipment that we used when flying patients from one location to another. I not only taught CPR classes in our squadron but to other squadrons and also to other civilian and/or Base organizations, such as the Child Development Center. One of the most important things I learned is people have different abilities and levels of learning and adjustments need to be made for those individuals.

As for my higher education, I do have an Associates Degree in Humane Services and from the University of Washington I have a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies.

Once my college degree was completed I became a Juvenile Probation Officer. Part of my responsibilities was to teach A.R.T., Aggression Replacement Training, along with other Probation Officers to Juveniles on probation ranging in ages from 10 to 17. I also assisted in running other groups such as the Girls Circles and Arts Connect. We also did study groups to help those youth that needed the extra help with school work.

As you can see, I have worked with a diverse group of people, being a teacher of one subject or another but always managing to work through the situation so that the students achieve success for themselves, because in the end they have to feel good about what they achieve. My 4 year old surprises me almost everyday with something he has learned or figured out. His growth in learning has been his greatest achievement and we strive to keep him interested by keeping him challenged" less...