Ms Zami-Perez

Life has presented an interesting road of travel for me. I was born and raised in New York City and experienced the Civil Rights movement. After mid of my teenage years I had lost both my parents and became a single parent of a beautiful boy. By the time I was 18 I left NYC to go to Santa Ana, California to marry my high school sweetheart. As life would have it, I became a single parent again, but now with two boys. I remained in California to raise my two children as I worked two jobs and went to college at night. In 1982 I received my Associate degree in Graphic Communications and worked the next few years as a Graphic Arts designer and Typographer.

I was quite fascinated with the military and joined the Army in 1985 and served as Calibration Specialist testing and repairing all electronic, physical, and radiological equipment that was used for measurement. My last duty station took me to Germany where I got out of the Army after six years and remained in Germany to work and live among the locals for seven and a half years until I repatriated to United States when I moved to Hawaii.

I knew in my heart that I am one of those lifelong learners. I began to embark on an educational journey where I have earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 1996 and my Masters of Education in Elementary Education with Montessori Certification in 1998. I began my illustrious teaching career teaching special education students. Then moving on to teaching kindergarten, first grade, and finally settling in teaching third grade for the past eight years. I am currently now a fourth grade reading coach for approaching students and mentor teachers.

I have a proclivity to want to learn more so I can be equipped with effective teaching practices to reach all learners. I began working on my National Board Certification and achieved my certification in 2005. Two years later I started on my second Masters in Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Computer Education. I knew back in the eighties that technology was here to stay and that some time in the future technology will be commonplace in the schools. I wanted to be prepared for the 21st century learner and the classes in the computer education venue of this degree have certainly been principal in this preparation. However, I have realized that I am still not there completely since there is so much more to learn about educational technology that I have decided to pursue a doctorate degree. Commencing in June 2009, I will begin my doctorate degree program in Educational Leadership in Educational Technology. My professional goal is to pay forward my educational experiences in reaching all students in low socioeconomic environments.

Life is not just all school for me. I enjoy working with my hands, so I do lots of crafts and woodworking. I love nature and living in Hawaii has presented beautiful landscapes to lose oneself in. My son Jason, 36, makes his annual pilgrimage to Hawaii for the sun and surf. Five years ago I had married a Dominican National who three years ago immigrated to United States. Together with my new husband and my Labradoodle (cross breed of a Labrador retriever and poodle) named Ka Nui, my life is filled with lots of love and adventures.