Karen Finch moved to California from her birthplace in Ohio in 1952. A child of educators, she discovered at a young age that she had a love for working with and teaching others. She finalized her childhood dream when she graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology in 1972 and received her teaching credential.
While teaching, she pursued her education at the university and obtained her master’s degree in educational psychology in 1976. Karen was the youngest teacher ever hired by the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1972, a distinction she fondly remembers. While working for the Los Angeles Unified School District, she taught grades three through six and was acting principal for several summer school sessions in the Los Angeles area. She was also a bilingual educator that worked with children who were learning English.
Karen also was a mentor teacher for student teachers from California Lutheran College, Baptist College and other universities within the area.
In 1979, Karen and her family moved to Northern California where she taught in Sacramento as a reading resource teacher for five years and as a first and second grade teacher. While she taught and lived in Sacramento, she continued with her education and received endorsements and credentials in bilingual education and was a mentor teacher for education majors at California State University, Sacramento.
In 1989 Karen moved to the Boise area where she lives today. She has continued mentoring college students and continues her love for teaching children.
She has currently taught fifth and sixth grade for the past 20 years in Boise and has been a private tutor and educational consultant for the community. Her love for tutoring on a one-on-one basis has been very fulfilling and rewarding as she has watched dozens of students move on academically successful.
Over her professional career, Karen has received numerous awards and commendations. She was selected to be included in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers both in 1998 and in 2002. She was asked to speak before the Idaho State Legislature in 1994 regarding education and was selected as one of Idaho’s Woman Educators by Boise State University in 2003. Karen has also been asked to write articles for various newsletters and magazines on topics involving tutoring and helping parents work most effectively with their children on schoolwork.
Karen was an adjunct faculty member at Boise State, acting as a liaison for seven years, training college students in the College of Education to become future teachers.
Karen is the proud mother of three grown sons who have pursued their ambitions and dreams and are helping their communities in their chosen fields.
Credentials and Achievements
Bachelors Degree in Psychology from California State University, Northridge
Masters Degree in Educational Psychology from California State
University, Northridge
Winner of The Pesky Award for Inspirational Teaching in 2011
Idaho Teaching Credential for Grades K-8
Administration and Supervision Credential
Private Tutor and Educational Consultant for 40 years
Language Development Specialist Certificate
Mentor/Master teacher for the Following:
Universities of Sacramento, California, California Lutheran College, and Boise State University.
Idaho Woman Educator of the Year Selected by Boise State University
Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers Awards – 1998 and 2002