My Life
I, like many students at Livingston High School, immigrated to the United States. I was born in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and came to the United States in 1972 at the age of two with my family. Although I was born in South America, my heritage is Portuguese; both my parents being of Portuguese origins. Upon arriving in the U.S. I lived in Gustine, California for about four years and then moved to Livingston at the age of six. I attended Campus Park Elementary School until the third grade and then completed fourth through sixth grade at the Selma Herndon Senior Elementary School. My 7th and 8th grade years were at Selma Herndon Junior High. In 1984 I began attending Livingston High School where I was active in sports; being a member of both the volleyball and basketball team all four years of high school. Band was also a big part of my high school years because of my love for playing the clarinet. Some of my best memories of my high school years were spent with the marching and concert band at rallies, football and basketball games and various competitions. I'm proud to say I'm a member of the Livingston High graduating class of 1988. After high school I attended the University of California Davis where I received a bachelors degree in Political Science. Next I continued on with graduate school at the University of California Santa Barbara where I received a masters degree also in Political Science. At this time in my life my plan was to work for the government, however, having worked briefly for a Congressman and after interviewing for several county government jobs, I felt working for the government was not very exciting. So in 1994 I began the credential program at California State University Stanislaus with the intention of becoming a teacher.
In August of 1996 I began my first teaching position for the Merced Union High School District at the East Campus Educational Center where I would teach for ten years. At ECEC I taught geography, world history and senior economics and government. In 2006 I was fortunate to receive the current position I hold at Livingston High School, teaching senior economics and government and also advanced government. It was good to be back home at LHS.
On a more personal level, I've been married for nineteen years to Jaime Bettencourt who is also Portuguese, having been born in Pico, Azores. We have three children, age 20, 18 and 12. to edit.
In August of 1996 I began my first teaching position for the Merced Union High School District at the East Campus Educational Center where I would teach for ten years. At ECEC I taught geography, world history and senior economics and government. In 2006 I was fortunate to receive the current position I hold at Livingston High School, teaching senior economics and government and also advanced government. It was good to be back home at LHS.
On a more personal level, I've been married for nineteen years to Jaime Bettencourt who is also Portuguese, having been born in Pico, Azores. We have three children, age 20, 18 and 12. to edit.