She started dancing at an early age, and began teaching tap dance to children for the San Francisco Recreation and Parks department when she was 10. She added Daly City and South San Francisco to the list of cities sponsoring her tap classes shortly thereafter. In 1986, she took on the task of teaching tap dance to members of the acclaimed Young People's Teen Musical Theatre Company.
While working with the Company, she taught regular dance classes, choreographed musical numbers, and offered master classes. She continued teaching at San Francisco playgrounds, working with children ranging in age from 3 years old up to early teens.
From 1982 through 1987, Miss Grilley volunteered as a student aid in special education classrooms at Presidio Middle School and George Washington High School. She worked with all levels of special needs, assisting teachers in all facets of the classroom environment.
In 1987, Miss Grilley entered San Francisco State University, maintaining a 3.9 grade point average during her undergraduate years. She graduated with a B.A. in liberal studies in 1991, and entered the credential program that same year. She graduated with honors from the credential program in May of 1993, with a multiple subjects clear teaching credential. She received her Language Development Specialist credential in early 1996.
Miss Grilley continues her educational career, working towards a Masters degree, to be followed by a Doctorate. Her current area of interest is Educational Technology.
Miss Grilley came to Garden Village elementary school in Daly City in September 1993. She taught first grade during her first year, followed by a kindergarten/first grade split classroom for the past three years.
Miss Grilley brings her dance background into her classroom. She incorporates tap and music into the classroom, and the students perform in the spring concert. Beginning in her first year at Garden Village, she was asked to choreograph the winter concert for all primary grades.
The example she has set, by integrating music and movement into the classroom, was quickly followed by the other teachers at Garden Village. She has taught tap dance to the other teachers, who have since performed in the school talent show.
When not in the classroom, Miss Grilley works extensively with her computers, reviewing software and working to integrate computers into her curriculum.
She also collects Donald Duck toys and merchandise, with over 300 pieces in her awe-inspiring collection. She is always on the lookout for additional items for her collection, and visits Disneyland frequently. She enjoys Donald because he displays a more complete personality than other Disney characters.
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