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| Derek Diaz |
Derek Diaz, who teaches classes in Adobe and Microsoft applications, enjoys every aspect of teaching, imparting his wealth of experience and knowledge to his students through practical lessons, which include teacher-created handouts, all of which students can use on a daily basis. Alleviating any intimidation or frustration that students might experience in using the computer is important to Mr. Diaz. In all of his daytime, evening and Saturday classes, he always strives to create a cutting-edge approach to his curriculum.
As a certified computer graphics applications technician, Derek possesses a diverse background, having worked for many different advertising agencies and the entertainment industry. He created graphics, signage and logos for commercial businesses, such as 31 Flavors Ice Cream, Washington Mutual and Vons. After being a graphic artist for 15 years, he found a rewarding job of teaching a Photoshop class in a trade school. He realized he loved teaching, then started teaching classes in Microsoft and Adobe applications at the college level and has done many corporate and civil service training seminars.
Mr. Diaz' interests and hobbies are as diverse as his work experiences. He enjoys taking pictures and editing them in Photoshop, hiking, snow skiing, and going to spinning, yoga and weight-training classes at the gym.
His father and two brothers live in the area and he enjoys spending time with them. |
| Interview & Article by B. Kane |
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| David Mitchell |
David Mitchell has been teaching Excel, Word, Powerpoint, and Intro to Computers at Conejo Valley Adult School since 2007.
His early teaching days began in Glendora, Calif. where he taught at the fourth grade level for five years before heading overseas for a year’s worth of missionary work in Pretoria, South Africa at the beginning of 2004. While there, he was responsible for developing and putting into practice a curriculum for computer courses designed for individuals 35 and older. Because the government only had funding for students 18-35, David’s work was especially important. He was able to extend education to students 35 and older at no charge and grant them informal certificates for their achievements.
Upon returning to the United States, David took up teaching in Santa Paula, where he remained for a year and a half before assuming his present post as a middle school-level math and science teacher at Somis Elementary School. Despite his day job teaching a younger audience, David says he really appreciates the chance to teach adults at CVAS who need direction, a fresh start, or who have gone through a life-changing experience such as divorce and are now looking to develop their skills and form their own identities.
“It’s a pleasure to teach somebody who’s not just rolling over and saying, ‘Woe is me,’ and they see computers as an opportunity,” he says. “It makes it all the more rewarding to me to have that potential influence.”
It was perhaps his own mother’s influence, David says, that informed his decision to teach and gravitate toward computers. Now retired after 37 years as a teacher herself, David remembers her bringing home an Apple II computer in 1984. He found himself playing around on such programs as Apple MacWrite and MacPaint, and later making use of a Texas Instruments computer keyboard that plugged into the monitor, allowing simple code-writing input.
“I think she saw it as a valuable thing for me to be aware of,” David says. “My mom made a point of making sure it was something available to me.”
David now hopes to do similarly for his middle school students. He serves on the school’s Technology Planning Committee whose vision it is to implement the use of iPads in every classroom.
He also believes that it is never too late to learn or continuing learning.
“I have students who I know realize that they should have learned [to use computers] a while ago,” he says, “So I appreciate people willing to make that effort–-pursuing life as a learner. You stay in touch with the way life is changing.”
He encourages prospective students on the fence about their education to simply start attending Conjo Adult School classes.
“Teachers sort of leave a mark, and you wouldn’t think adults would have people in their lives in that way, but if [you’re] curious, we have incredibly patient staff members—patient and helpful—in a caring environment,” he says.
In the end, in the process of giving back, David values being reinvigorated by his calling.
“Teaching was always something in my blood to do,” he says. “And I feel like a whole new set of energy comes to those moments where you really get in the groove while you’re teaching and it’s really exciting to me.”
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| Interview & Article by Elise Kane |
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'I really like that the students who come to my classes really are eager to learn what the course has to offer' ...Students like taking the fast-track courses, rather than the ones offered at the college level that might take longer to complete.... 'This way, they can get a jumpstart, with first-hand experience.' |
| —Instructor Diane Folsom |
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| Diane Folsom |
Diane Folsom reports for double-duty in two of the Adult School programs, both in related subject areas. For the Computer Training Center her specialty is QuickBooks I & II, and in Community Service she's the evening instructor for the 4-part Bookkeeping Certificate Program. It is her goal to help her students acquire a foundational knowledge and the necessary tools via hands-on learning that they can apply once they enter the workforce.
She has a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Accounting from California Lutheran University, a Designated Subject Credential in the subject of Accounting and runs a business that offers QuickBooks consulting and bookkeeping for small businesses.
It was in August of 2005 that she started teaching for the Adult School. "I really like that the students who come to my classes are eager to learn what the courses have to offer," says Diane, who enjoys sharing her knowledge with others.
Diane gets the ball rolling when it comes to her leisure time by competing in a bowling league. She enjoys reading and taking in a good movie.
Whether one is just starting out in the field or is a small- or medium-sized business owner, Diane is ready and willing to provide her expertise and guidance with navigating through the various requisite accounting skills that enable the businessperson to effectively and with the utmost confidence get the facets of their financial house in order. All this with the command of a powerfully sophisticated, yet user-friendly computer application. |
| Interview & Article by B. Kane |
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| Monthly graduation ceremony, led by CTC coordinator Cindy Wagner, to celebrate students' program completion and success. |
| Cindy Wagner |
Cindy Wagner, a long-time Thousand Oaks resident, has been using personal computers and training people to work with them since 1982.
A graduate of CSUN in Business Administration, Ms. Wagner worked as a manager / trainer in publishing and direct marketing companies before choosing teaching as her vocation 10 years ago.
The mother of two (ages 18 & 21), Cindy listened to her father's wise advice when her children were young. He advised her to always have a computer at their house because he believed that his grandchildren needed to be using technology as it evolved throughout their lives. Cindy agreed, knowing that in her generation there is a large number of adults that did not grow up with computers and find using them very difficult & frustrating--even frightening to some degree. Helping people learn how to use their computers to get jobs and to make their lives better is a big reason Cindy continues to enjoy her job at the Conejo Valley Adult School.
Cindy often tells her students, "Never fear a computer--treat it with no more respect than you give to your toaster. Learn to make it do what you want." |
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| Maya Monserrate |
| Maya Monserrate's position as a Computer Training Center instructor gives her the opportunity to draw upon the depth and breadth of her expertise when teaching the students in her classes the skills they need to master various applications including the widely-used Microsoft's Office suite.
Maya has also worked with the newly entering and continuing students in the ESL program, conducting testing for placement and tracking purposes. She was responsible for setting up records for each student and maintaining the data on their progress and attendance via a specialized database system designed for verification and accountability reporting to the California Department of Education. This data is tied to an ESL program grant that the school receives to support its operations. Additionally, she was the system users' contact and tech support representative for the central coast region. In the past, she has taught classes herself as well as subbed for teachers in ESL Beginning Literacy, Computer Literacy and GED Math.
Concurrent with earning a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies, Maya obtained her multi-subject teaching credential from Cal State University, Northridge. Subsequently, she taught 5th grade for 2 years at El Rio Elementary School in the neighboring El Rio Elementary School District, in Oxnard. One day, while walking with her children in the neighborhood of the Adult School, she decided to stop in to inquire about other teaching opportunities. Her qualifications, including her ability to speak Spanish paved the way for her employment at the school where she has worked ever since January of 2002.
Interacting with the students she works with is very gratifying, according to Maya. I really like helping them to acquire new skills in order to get ahead in life. In my opinion, we have the best students at this school, in addition to a really wonderful staff." She's glad to be working in the Thousand Oaks community. Maya appreciates having the flexible schedule that her job affords. Someday she would like to earn a credential in Math so that she can teach the subject at the middle school level.
Maya is the proud mom of two children--Eric and Tori, who attend the local district schools.
When not working at the Adult School, Maya's favorite activities include running such that she's participated in several half-marathons and plans to someday work up to completing an entire race. Another pastime is gardening, both for her own family's consumption, but also for sharing the fruits of her labor with the department staff, an example being her harvest of some large pumpkins that she's given out--just in time for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Maya's love of animals is evidenced by the menagerie she possesses--2 dogs, lizards, fish and a frog. Her busy schedule doesn't afford her the time that she would like to travel, but she has been to Mexico and has an upcoming trip to Florida. She looks forward to someday taking trips to Germany and Puerto Rico, where she has family to visit with and can take the opportunity to tour the countries.
Needless to say, Maya continues to play an important role in our Adult School programs, carrying out her assignment with a great deal of expertise and dedication. |
| Interview & Article by B. Kane |
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