Amelia Acuña, fifth grade teacher at Howe Avenue Elementary in Sacramento, believes in teaching the whole child and teaching them life skills.

Helene Cob began her career as an art teacher in New Jersey in 1966. At the time she had no idea her passions for art and language would quickly lead her to moving abroad.

Tom Houts talks about his journey as a principal at Downey High School, his family's background as educators and the support of his colleagues. "I have a wonderful job and I have a wonderful staff, and I couldn't be happier with my position or my career choice."

David Brown seemed destined to become a teacher. With a family full of former and current educators, it was obvious where his career path would lead.

Retired teacher Jeannine Kato spent part of her career in special education and the rest in elementary school bilingual education.

Kristen Thompson discovered her love of teaching at the age of 5 and hopes to inspire others to keep the torch of music alive in education.   

Anselmo is a science teacher at Elkhorn Village School in West Sacramento. Julie Law-Marin is a social science teacher at Antelope High School in Antelope.

During her time as a Mission College faculty member, Deborah LeFalle made it her mission to uplift students.

Bill Dempsey has been a musician in one form or another since childhood.

Janet Sitts wore many hats before fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher. Her eye for art started an early career path in print and design for University of California Davis. Her path shifted when she went to the Bay Area as an interior designer. From there, it was motherhood and a desire to start teaching.

Susan Garcia, a retired Yolo County teacher, talks about the legacy her brother Christopher Ailman has made at CalSTRS. "This is just astonishing my little brother has become this internationally recognized leader."

Lura Wilhelm's art teaching career goes the distance, as she maintains relationships with teachers, administrators and students.

CalSTRS catches up with some of our active and retired teachers. "I love not having to worry about what to do when I retire as far as financially. I love that it's being taken care of."

Marielle Tsukamoto, a longtime teacher and administrator in Elk Grove, California, followed in the footsteps of her mother.

Kathy Cuevas taught everything from typing to special education and economics, but her real passion was teaching finance.

Second grade teacher Josie Peavy of Two Rivers Elementary talks about her career. "It's really empowering to see students see their growth from the beginning to the end."

Editor's update: Myron Nelson passed away October 8, 2023. We share our condolences with his family. 

Eva Schmidler says she’s had three completely different careers. All of them in teaching. That doesn’t even count the 25 years she taught tai chi…

Laurence Frame is a man of many talents and has a dream: One day they will come. Specifically, he would like a Major League pitcher to accept his challenge to get one hit in front of an audience as a fundraiser for his Field of Dreams project.

Mather Heights Elementary teacher Sarah Kirby-Gonzalez says she loves working with students. "I always think that the best place to make a difference with individual kids is up close to them in the classroom. This is where the hardest work will always happen."

Craig Rowe never saw himself becoming a teacher. Growing up in the 70s and 80s in Hayward, he remembers school as a diverse yet factional place with racial tension and frequent fights.

Jessica Pagan, a first grade teacher at Bridgeway Island Elementary School in West Sacramento, started running about 15 years ago.

Samantha Nunes, first grade teacher at Anderson Elementary in Dixon, takes us into her classroom and discusses her experience in a retirement planning session with CalSTRS.

Retired elementary teacher Mark Galipeau took to the seas in retirement. He spends some of his time helping sail historic tall ships.

Francisco “Mr. Franco” Laguna became a teacher in 1997 after volunteering at a nearby after-school reading program.

Dolly Sandoval, a newly retired math teacher from Los Gatos High School, talks with CalSTRS about her CalSTRS pension and retirement.

Retired teacher David Salvaggio uses poetry to document his decades as a California educator in his book “Restless Gold: Musings About California’s Pupils and Other Verses.”

El Dorado High School trades and industry teacher Lance Gunnersen sits down with CalSTRS to talk about his love of teaching, his CalSTRS pension and his plans for retirement.

Wayne Boudreau has taught physical education off and on since 1969, but he has always kept his love of moving.