Committed to public education in Orange County. Fighting for fiscal responsibility, rigorous academic programs, and quality education for all students.

• K-12 educator for over 30 years as a California public high school teacher and as a site and district administrator. 
• Director of the Educational Doctoral Program and faculty at Cal State Fullerton.
• Doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy.
• Published author on educational research and commentary.
• Fulbright Scholar who studied transitional democracies.

 Raised in Southern California, I always knew I would be a teacher. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, I began my teaching career and have taught in three public school districts. I continued my education and earned a master's degree in public policy from Claremont Graduate School and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from UC Irvine and CSU Fullerton, serving as an advocate for quality public education. 

I have been married to Dr. Daryl Watkins for 28 years, a leadership coach, an author, an F-18/A pilot, and a Navy veteran. After leaving the military, Dr. Daryl Watkins founded Leadership Development and Research Consultants and continues to serve as a professor of leadership at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. 

Together, we have raised three sons and have shown that family values and a strong sense of purpose can go hand in hand.