My
Biography
Hafa Adai!
My name is Catherine Diniega. I live on the island of Guam, a U.S.
territory in the Pacific. Many people are unaware of my home and think
it is a foreign country. The island is a tourist destination for most
Asian countries such as Japan and Korea. It is also a location for the
U.S. Air Force and Naval bases. I currently teach Chemistry at Southern
High School, the Home of the Dolphins! It is one of the 4 high schools
on Guam that is lucky enough to be located about a mile from the beach
where dolphins are known to “play” with the dive boats that leave the
nearby marina. Scuba diving on Guam is great! I’ve been lucky enough
to dive in the clearest waters and see the most diverse sea life here on
Guam. In fact, Guam is the stepping stone to the best dive site in the
world: Palau.
I
once felt that our Guam schools could not offer the same capabilities as
those in the U.S. mainland because money and training are a big issue.
However, that changed when I completed a course in video technology and
found it to be applicable to the island’s schools. My school district
is trying to catch up with the digital age and I felt I had to do the
same. A few teachers can use the computer or know the different
teaching and learning strategies that can be applied through
technology. A graduate degree in curriculum and technology will enable
me to help teachers and students use technology more effectively.
The
opportunity to get my Masters from the University of Phoenix has been
very rewarding. I have learned from educators around the United States
and from other countries and it has been an exciting and enjoyable
adventure. I am looking forward to working with all of you in the
coming weeks.
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