Physical Education
About Denise Klaren...
I am the Physical Education teacher at Meadows Elementary School for grades 1-5.
I love teaching the children to have fun while being active, introducing them to
new games and improving their skills in a variety of areas.
I attended Pacific Elementary, Center Junior High and Mira Costa High School
here in Manhattan Beach. I knew in 7th grade that I wanted to be a Physical
Education teacher. I also wanted to be a paleontologist but realized that there
wasn’t much of a calling for paleontologists below the college level of
teaching. I earned my teaching credential in Physical Education from California
State University, Long Beach but graduated during a teacher glut. During my
college years, I worked part-time and competed on the University’s crew team and
I competed, coached and managed the Nahoa Outrigger Canoe Team. I worked as a
substitute teacher here in the South Bay and Ingelwood areas, then later in the
Sunnyvale, northern California, area where they too had a teacher glut. I
returned to the South Bay and entered a Corrective Therapy program at California
State University, Long Beach. Corrective therapy is similar to physical therapy
and I worked in this capacity until I applied and was accepted into the U.C.L.A.
School of Public Health masters program. I earned my Masters of Public Health
degree with a specialization in marketing. I worked as a project manager,
operations manager and administrator for for-profit healthcare corporations
while living in Manhattan Beach. I was also able to travel to many places around
the world, which I enjoyed greatly!
I started my family in 1991 while the administrator of a medical center. I left
that position to have my second son and be a full-time mom with a part-time job
as an assistant editor of a 360 degree focus consulting group for corporate
improvement. I was able to spend a great amount of time with my sons and for
that I am very grateful. When my sons were old enough we started studying
Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do. While they are no longer studying, I have
continued and am in my tenth year.
When my sons entered school, I decided to go back to teaching. I was a
substitute teacher in this district for several years until the opening for a
Physical Education teacher opened up. I applied and was accepted to Meadows
Elementary School and I could not be happier! We have a great community here!
My current interests are: karate-do, ocean kayaking, hiking, paleontology, the
sciences, horticulture and travel.
Thank you,
Denise Klaren