WELCOME TO
MR. FORD'S
3^rd GRADE CLASS

David Ford is now teaching 3rd grade, after previously teaching 5th grade for many years. He started at Monte Vista in 1990. He especially likes the school's beautiful campus, cooperative staff, and polite students. Mr. Ford received his B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Redlands (Go Bulldogs!) and his Credential from CSULA. He was attracted to teaching because he believes that education is very important. "I wanted to help young people to a positive future and thought I could make a contribution." Mr. Ford enjoys watching his students grow and change between September and June. His most memorable moment in teaching came when his 1992 class made a mural for Glendale Memorial Hospital. Art was his favorite subject in school, so he particularly enjoys art projects with his class. In fact, Mr. Ford worked for a Graphic Arts business before becoming a teacher.

Mr. Ford and his wife, Carrie, have three children: Timothy, Loretta, and Audrey. He enjoys swimming and bike riding with them in his free time. Mr. Ford has one dog -- his favorite animal -- a female pug named Fonzie. Mr. Ford grew up in San Marino; he considers that his family was special because "we were very close and spent a lot of time doing things together. I am still very close to my two brothers." When he was 14, his family took a trip to the East Coast, which he still cherishes as a favorite childhood memory. His favorite teacher in grade school was Mrs. Boucher, who taught 5th grade and high school art. She had a gift of "finding positive things in everybody's work."

Mr. Ford has a lifelong fascination with trains, railroads, and railroad history -- "I can't remember not being fascinated by railroads." -- he's even dressed as a train conductor in Halloween Parades! He also enjoys working with stained glass.

Mr. Ford's favorite children's book is The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg, and his favorite children's author is Jerry Spinelli. His favorite adult author is John Steinbeck, and he's particularly fond of Catcher in the Rye and The Grapes of Wrath. He enjoys listening to 60's Rock 'n Roll, jazz, 40's Big Bands, and Pavarotti, and loves renting Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock. He considers classic movie actors Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn his favorites.

If he could go anywhere in the world, Mr. Ford would go to Greece. It has a great combination of climate, history, scenery, and good food. That's for sure, Mr. Ford! The most interesting places he has ever traveled are England and Scotland. Those countries were the beginnings of Western culture and as a result have so many interesting places to see. A bit closer to home, Mr. Ford likes to vacation at Pismo Beach and Palm Springs. He dreams of a future "away from the hustle and bustle of the city."