Jessica Smith, Music
My name is Jessica Smith, and I am the Music Consultant at OPE. I was born and raised in a small town in Nebraska. This is where I gained my love for teaching and music. With my mom working as a school secretary, I was able to spend a lot of time outside of school with teachers, I loved them, and knew I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. What kind of teacher…..I didn’t know??? I did know, that I loved math and I loved music. Lucky for me, math and music work together. I decided to attend Northwest Missouri State University, where I received my Bachelor of Science Degree and Credential in K-12 Music Education. From there, I moved to Sidney, Iowa where I taught Kindergarten – 12th grade music. Talk about a challenge having a choir of 80 high school kids one hour, and 25 kindergartners the next! I enjoyed my time in Iowa, but soon decided I was tired of the small town life. I needed a change and with the encouragement of a friend I found my way to “Sunny California.” I searched for a teaching job for 9 months, and as luck would have it I was hired at OPE the day after I arrived. I started school the next day!
Five years later, I am still here at OPE, loving “almost” every single minute of it!!!! I enjoy putting together performances with the kids. We spend much of our time singing, learning rhythms, reading music notes, playing instruments, talking about music history, dancing, performing, and as I tell the kids….having FUN!!! I know that the students at OPE are very fortunate to have such a giving community that allows them the opportunity to receive the gift and knowledge of music every week. It is because of these opportunities that students from OPE will become “well-rounded” individuals. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with your children. I love my job….I have to….besides, who else gets to sing and dance all day, every day!?!?!
Thomas Baugh, Science
My background is varied. I have done many different jobs in my life, but mostly in construction/carpentry. My teaching career began after my wife and I had raised our three beautiful children and I felt the need to change careers and give back in a different way. I always had this innate curiosity, and I love to see children with that spark, that love of learning.
I went back to school 9 years ago to get my teaching credential Clad and Masters degree in education. I had received my bachelor’s degree from USD in business, and education seemed the natural progression. Even though you might think it counterintuitive, building with science, it actually is a natural progression: problem solving, creative thinking, figuring, and delving into problems, getting in the dirt, working hard.
My journey has been wonderful and I have worked at OPE most of my teaching career. I left for one year to pursue a job in a small rural school in northern California where I was the principal and taught a 3,4,5 combo class. That experience was both rewarding and very challenging. The distance from my wife and kids drove me back home.
My strength in the sciences would be earth science. In my early college years I studied geology, field botany and biology in a small college on the base of Mount Shasta. My love for the outdoors, surfing, backpacking and exploring keeps me in touch with nature and science. My love for learning and growing is constant. I am as much a student as my students. I am blessed to be at a school with such a supportive staff, parents, students, and principal. I love what I do and love each and every one of my students. I even love the ones that don’t do their homework. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone here that has enriched my life.
Cindy Simpson, Math
I, Cindy Simpson, began my career over 30 years ago, as a pre-school teacher and then went on to set up the first elementary school computer labs (early 80s) for Redlands and Yucaipa School Districts. I got my teaching credential and CLAD certificate from Univer. of Redlands and began teaching 5th grade for many years (one year, third) for Yucaipa School District.
Both of my children attended UCSD (one graduated with a degree in Biology, the other one is a junior there), so we moved to Carlsbad to be closer to them. This is my third year at OPE, working part time with second language learners and other students who need support in different areas of the curriculum. This year, OPE has begun a math tutoring program, S.U.M.S. (Students Using Math Skills) that partners adults with students learning new math concepts. I have seven tutors working Monday through Thursday and would love to have more tutors sign up. It's a great way to help students and refresh your math skills, too.
Elaine Feuer-Barton, Reading
I have been the reading consultant at OPE for over 10 years, but my first role at the school was as a parent. Both of my children (now at UCLA and Emory Law School) attended OPE since the year it opened. I have the distinction of being the first School Site Council chairperson at OPE.
I began my teaching career as a bilingual teacher in east Los Angeles and then in Solana Beach. I speak fluent Spanish. After taking time off to be with my young children, I resumed teaching in various consultant roles. It has been my great pleasure to develop OPE's Everyone A Reader program (originally called Rolling Readers)from a modest program to one that now involves about 25 tutors and provides reading practice to 40-50 students over the course of the school year. We have received the San Diego County office of Education's Diamond Award for 8 consecutive years.
In addition to recruiting and training tutors for EAR and supervising the program, I see 12-15 students for more in-depth reading instruction. In this capacity I am able to incorporate reading games and activities as well as the computer to teach specific reading skills. Each year DRA, Steiglitz and STAR reading scores attest to the impact that OPE's reading program has on our students. It is my pleasure to help our young readers grow.