SLO County History Museum | History Center Of San Luis Obispo County

While many children have imaginary friends, I had an imaginary classroom full of students, for I’ve known that I wanted to be a teacher ever since I can remember. So, in addition to learning about the subject matter in each course throughout my academic career, I also studied the strategies and methodologies that my teachers used in hopes of utilizing the better ideas someday.

In high school, history became my chosen field of study—with the idea that being a high school history teacher could be my vocation. As a 5th generation native Californian, my family’s genealogy and connection to California’s history fascinates me.

I was born in Downey, California where my father worked as a rocket scientist for Rockwell International. After growing up in Yorba Linda, my family moved to the family ranch in southern San Benito County where my father grew up in the 1878 house with brick fired by my great grandfather. This relocation came just in time for me to start King City High School.

At U.C. Berkeley, I focused on United States history with an emphasis on The American Revolution. I taught high school history for 27 years, beginning my career in King City and then spending 24 years teaching in San Francisco. I ultimately spent 20 years teaching Advanced Placement United States History, American Government, and Leadership, while serving as Lowell High School’s Student Activities Director.

The bulk of my summers were spent attending fellowships and acting in administrative capacities or traveling. Some highlights include four summers at Yale University and one at Princeton as the Assistant Director of a program that taught American Government, Constitutional Law, and Public Speaking to high school students. I also served as the Master Teacher at an NEH program at Salem State and studied the American Civil Rights Movement at Cambridge University. Lastly, I furthered my love of history and culture by taking Spanish language courses throughout Mexico and Argentina.

Having bought 5 years of service credit, I retired in 2018 at 52 years of age, went back to school, and earned my National Emergency Medical Technician license—with the goal of joining the Peace Corps. The pandemic changed all that.

In 2020, I left San Francisco and returned to Bitterwater (my father’s hometown) taking on volunteer positions with the Monterey County Agriculture and Rural Life Museum, Rotary, King City In Bloom, and the King City Community Scholarship Foundation.

Returning to the King City area allowed me to reconnect with family and many old friends including Andy Maness, my spouse. After graduating from King City High in 1983 also, Andy moved south, received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from Cal Poly, and then taught there for the next 23 years. I fell quickly for Andy, and we’ve been a couple since 2021 getting married in 2023.

In 2024, Andy and I bought a house in San Luis Obispo and moved to a neighborhood that Andy called home for decades. While giving up volunteer jobs in King City, I found ways to serve San Luis Obispo—as a bartender for SLO Repertory Theater, a Mission San Luis Obispo docent, a mission bell ringer, a driver for Meals That Connect, and a docent for The History Center.

Serendipitously, I approached members of The History Center about joining the board at a time when a transition was going to take place. At a lunch with past and present History Center board members, it was decided that I might be able to help, for they needed a new director.

Now, as the Executive Director of The History Center, I hope to bring top notch exhibits to “The Carnegie,” build partnerships with the community, preserve the historic collection that we steward, train an army of volunteers, and be a successful fundraiser for the continued success of The History Center of San Luis Obispo County.