Spotlight on Our Resource Specialist

Q&A with Catherine H., Resource Specialist

Please tell us a little about yourself. For example, where are you from originally and how long have you lived in the Bay Area?
I come from a large Italian family (6 children), and I was born in Louisiana. However, since my father was in the Air Force, we traveled all over. My siblings were born at West Point, Corpus Christi, Alexandria, and Okinawa. Relocating so many times can be hard, but I think having so many brothers and sisters made it easier for us to adjust. We finally settled in Spokane, Washington, where I got both my teaching and special education credentials.

When I got married, I moved to San Jose and started teaching for the Campbell Union School District. That was more than 30 years ago, and since then I’ve taught at all three middle schools as well as Marshall Lane, Forest Hill, and Village.

As of this year, the position of Resource Specialist has increased from part-time to .6 with a dedicated classroom. Please tell us a little more about your role.
For most of my time in Campbell, I have been a Resource Specialist. My job allows me to work with many teachers and students of all grade levels, which I love.

I chose to be a teacher because of this love for working with children. I decided to focus in this area because I saw a need for advocacy. It can be very challenging for our children to be able to access curriculum and feel successful in school. Part of my role is to help implement strategies that will support this goal.

What are your interests/hobbies? What are some things you and your family like to do for fun?
My children are grown now and living in northern California and Washington. As a family, we enjoy the outdoors, stargazing, and celebrating family traditions together. I also enjoy reading, baking, and hiking with my husband.

Do your students teach you things? If so, what do you learn from them?
Do my students teach me things? Yes, every day. But, mostly, they fill me with admiration and respect for their strength and resilience. They meet life’s challenges with a ready smile and a willingness to try again — and again. They inspire me.