My name is Carley Collier. I have lived here in San Marcos since I was born. I attended elementary school at Richland Elementary School. I was a member of the first "graduating" class of Woodland Park Middle School. I spent all four years of high school at San Marcos High and graduated from there in 2004. I spent my first two years of college at Palomar College working on my G.E. credits for transfer and my Associate's degree. I received two AA degrees from Palomar in May of 2006 - one in General Studies - Arts and Humanties, and the other in Liberal Arts & Sciences. Finally, I received my BA in Literature and Writing with a concentration in Writing from right here at CSUSM in May of 2008.
I have had the privilege of growing up with technology. Technology is such a major part of daily life in the world we live in now that it's pretty difficult NOT to have experiences with technology. Technology and all of its advances have always fascinated me, and I couldn't imagine going a day without the conveniences of modern technology that are available to me. How humankind survived without cell phones, the internet, and digital cameras is beyond me! Besides the daily technologies I use, I have been especially interested in computer animation and graphic arts since high school. I have taken classes on PhotoShop, computer animation, and basic computer skills. Though hesitant at first, I am now totally onboard with Office 07 and use it regularly. I have some experience working with very basic webpage design using Google Page Creator, and I have dabbled in iMovie. I am primarily a PC user, but I had the privilege of working with Macs in the computer course I took last spring. I love my PCs at home, but I also love the features and programs (such as iMovie) that Macs have to offer! :D
The focus of CSUSM's CoE on "educational equity" and its "commitment to student centered education" are what draw me to this particular program. As a student with a learning disability I believe strongly in the importance of focusing on the individual needs of each and every student. I believe that every student that will one day walk through my classroom door will have something special to offer my class, and I appreciate that there is a teacher credential program out there that will teach me how to reach all of my students and learn from (and teach) what each student will bring to my future classroom. I want to give each and every one of my future students the opportunity to find and express their own unique voice, and I believe I can acheive that through educational equity and a commitment to student centered education. Thanks to the CoE here at CSUSM, this is more than just a hope, it's a possibility.
