GROWING UP

    Until the age of seven, I spent my time on a farm in south Texas .  We grew cotton and raised cattle.  My family decided to move to "the city," Corpus Christi , Texas when I was very young.  Soon after that, my parents divorced.  My mother, older brother and I moved around a lot.  In those days, being a single mother was a lot harder and less acceptable than it is now.  My mother finally decided to move us to California in 1959.  We settled in Santa Ana in 1961 and my mother remarried. I lived with my mother, brother, and stepdad until I was 20 years old. 

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

    After I graduated from high school, I went to UCI for one year.  I transferred to CSULB in order to major in social welfare.  I graduated and went to work for the Orange County Probation Department.  After several months, I discovered that I really liked teaching better than disciplining, so I went back to CSULB and took all of the classes I needed for a teaching credential plus a second major in sociology.  Several years later, I decided to pursue a Master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language which took five years to complete at CSUF.  

TEACHING EXPERIENCE: 

After finishing the teaching credential classes, I decided to combine student teaching with traveling,so I joined the Peace Corps.

English, mathematics, history and Physical Education in a girls’ high school in Kenya ( East Africa ) for 3 years.  After I returned to the United States , I taught business courses part-time for two years, and then some ESL classes in adult education.  I taught part-time for approximately 10 years until I was hired full time here at Fullerton College in 1991.                                                         

FAMILY LIFE

I am married, but I do not use my married name.  I use my maiden name, Portman.  This is a bit confusing for some people.  Michael and I have been married more than 25 years! 

Ms. Portman and husband Michael at the Great Wall of China

I have three daughters. My oldest daughter Meghan is a Human Resources manager for a company in Irvine. Amanda works in Orange for Planned Parenthood as an administrator. Melanie (Amanda's twin) is married and has two children, Roxy and Ayden. Her husband, Oscar, is an engineer for Boeing. They moved to Huntsville, Alabama last year.

Oscar, Melanie, Amanda, Meghan and granddaughter, Roxy (not the best photo!)

My granddaughter Roxy and grandson Ayden

We also have two “sons" and two "daughters" still at home.”  Here they are having a very hard day!

Ozzie, Benz, Kanika and OC Relaxing at home !

In the VERY LITTLE free time that I have, I enjoy playing tennis, working in the garden, traveling (I visited Peru and Kenya this summer!), and volunteering in various church and community activities.

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