My name is Monica Kalenda.  I'm 48.  I am the mother of four children.  Steve, age 30.  Ben, age 26, Michelle age 20 and MItch age 18.  I have two grand kids, Justus, age 4.5 and Keirrah, age 6 months. I am dating my ex-hubby.  We were married for 19 years and now we are boyfriend and girlfriend! I have three schnauzers; Lexi, Peanut and Pepper.  I also have my daughter's cat, Mr. Kitty.  It is a girl.

    It took me 17 years to obtain my AA degree.  My first priority was to be a mother, therefore I took a class here and there until I finally completed the degree.  I graduated from JR college in June of 1998 and my oldest boy entered it in August of 1998.  (That was close!) I then took various classes from several colleges including San Jose State University where I majored in Deaf Education.  I finally graduated from Simpson College in Redding in 2000 with a BA in Liberal Arts.  One more year earned me my teaching credential.  In between all of this, I was the PTA president at my kids high and elementary schools.  I served on Site Councils,  I was a Brownie leader, a Head Start volunteer, a volunteer sign language interpreter at various churches, classroom mom and I did a six year stint as a volunteer mom for nearly all of my daughters cross country and track events.  I looked forward to going to work so I could rest.

    My weekend home is in Redding, California, right on Shasta Lake. I mostly grew up there too.  I love boating, swimming hiking, biking and horseback riding.  I am an active scrapbooker and I am learning to crochet.  I started making a "wall quilt" 12 years ago.  One day I am going to finish the 2 foot by 2.5 foot thing.  (not really good at sewing)  My cooking is considered questionable by all of humanity with the exception of my boyfriend.  He loves his food burnt!  For the longest time, my kids believed the fire alarm was the dinner bell.  

    Prior to teaching here in Round Valley, I taught a 7th/8th combo, next a 6th grade class, and then second grade.  All of my previous positions were temporary one year positions due to the California budget crisis.  I have been teaching 7^th and 8^th grade at Round Valley Elementary School for three years now.  I lived in Covelo for the first two years and decided to move to Willits so I could do more in the evenings.  What was I thinking?  I do not do anything in the evenings.  I now wish I was staying in Covelo during the week as I am not fond of the commute.  

    I consider my greatest accomplishments my four children.  This is also a dream come true.  I absolutely love people. I believe that is why I was drawn to the teaching profession. Children are our future, and I can think of no better way to invest in the future than to give to and inspire those who will be in the future.