(Note: Celebrating its Silver Anniversary, NUSD is spotlighting some of its former graduates who have achieved success in college or career.)
NUSD Schools Attended: American Lakes School, Leroy Green Middle School, Natomas High School
Year Graduated: Natomas HIgh School, Class of 1998
Colleges Attended – Degrees Obtained: American River College, Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Jazz Studies; Berklee College of Music, Bachelor’s degree in Professional Music; Boston University — Master’s degree in Music Education
Career Since College — Four years as Vocal Director at Natomas Charter Performing and Fine Arts School; three years teaching Vocal Jazz Ensemble at American River College; 10 years teaching private voice and piano lessons; two years as Vocal Director for Kahuku High and Intermediate School, Hawaii; and two years as University Chorale Director at Brigham Young University, Hawaii.
Brief Description of Your Job Now — Vocal Director for Kahuku Elementary School in Hawaii, private voice and piano instructor, and University Chorale Director at Brigham Young University, Hawaii. I do three very different music jobs, part-time right now, which allows for a lot more flexibility in my schedule.
Q: How would you complete this sentence? NUSD was good for me because…
A: “...I loved being around such a diverse population. Every culture, every race has something beautiful to offer, lessons we can learn. I genuinely believe we are all better the more diverse our communities are, and I loved growing up in that environment.”
Q: How did an NUSD education help prepare you for college or career?
A: “All of my foundational training came from NUSD. Recently, I saw a meme that said, ‘If you can read this, thank a teacher.’ I can’t even remember who the teacher was that taught me to read. Perhaps my kindergarten teacher, Miss Girardi (Mrs. Niebauer now, I think). I loved her! Anyway, it made me think about the sacrifices of teachers whose names I may or may not remember, the hours they must have put into lesson plans and paper correcting, and meetings, and the patience I’m sure it took, to teach me and my classmates. That’s so powerful. Just that one skill, reading, has blessed and continues to bless my life in so many different ways. And that’s only ONE of the many things teachers teach.”
Q: What advice would you give to current students? Can they make it too?
A: “Absolutely. I would tell current students the same things I tell my students now. It doesn’t matter where you come from, where you start, or what hurdles you have in your way. In this country, in this day, you have opportunities at your fingertips. You just have to be willing to do the work. You CAN be successful. You CAN take advantage of all of the opportunities given to you and, with hard work and determination, make your life what you want it to be. It is 100% possible and people do it every day. We have EVERY reason to look forward to a bright and wonderful future.”
Q: Future goals?
“I’ve recorded a few CDs, and I’d love to record again. I love performing Jazz and I haven’t had a lot of opportunities to do so in Hawaii, so I’ve love to get back to that at some point. But for now, I suppose the goal is just to do my best at whatever my current task is. I hope to continue striving to become a better version of myself, wherever I am, whatever I’m doing. My Mom had a saying somewhere in our home that said, ‘Bloom where you’re planted.’ I love that — I did my best to bloom where I was planted. I also hope to take that idea with me, wherever I go.”
NUSD’s Board-approved Vision: “All NUSD students graduate as college and career ready, productive, responsible, and engaged global citizens.”
