Mrs. Jones graduated from Southern California College with a B.A. in Social Science and a minor in Physical Education and History. She holds a California Life Teaching Credential. She joined the staff at Baymonte in 1988, after teaching in public and private schools for fifteen years. Mrs. Jones also teaches middle school classes.
What made you want to become a teacher/administrator?
Teaching was not something I wanted to do as a little girl. I really wanted to be a legal secretary and prepared for that through high school. Easter vacation of my senior year in high school I discovered being a legal secretary was what I wanted to do and not what the Lord wanted me to do. At a Youth for Christ rally the Lord really spoke to me that He wanted me to be a teacher. I quickly enrolled at Southern California College and pursued a teaching credential. I am so thankful I went with the Lord’s plan for my life and not my plan.
As far as administration that is also something I never dreamed of doing. While at Napa Valley Christian Schools the board asked me to be the high school principal. Because I love teaching so much I had to spend a lot of time in prayer before I accepted the position and I really loved being a high school administrator. After teaching at Baymonte for two years I became the vice principal and I love being the vice principal.
What makes teaching at Baymonte distinctive?
After teaching ten years in the public setting I started teaching in a Christian school. Teaching in a Christian school is very distinctive. Because I truly believe all truth is God’s truth I can teach from a biblical perspective whether it is English, math, history, science etc. My faith is very important to me and being able to share my faith with my students is something I cherish.
I am aware that you are involved in many community activities. Will you highlight a few of them?
I have always felt as a Christian I need to be involved in the community. For the past 22 years I have been a part of Scotts Valley Girls Softball as a coach and/or board member. I also am an adjunct faculty member of Bethany University. I teach in the Teacher Education Program on the weekends. I feel this is my way of helping young people get prepared for the profession I love so much.
How has teaching changed over the years?
This is my 36th year of teaching so I have seen many changes. I think the biggest change has been the acceleration of learning; students are taught subject matter at least a year earlier. Another thing is that we have changed how we teach most subjects at least once. An example would be in language arts when the state changed from teaching phonics to “whole language”. I am thankful we didn’t do that at Baymonte. The funny thing is we usually go back to what has worked. As far as students, because their schedules are so busy, they have less time to creatively entertain themselves. Unfortunately, I think this has had a negative effect when they are trying to express themselves in their writing.