3 Careers Later, California Teacher Finds Her Calling

Lori Moore’s first career was in hotel management. She worked hard and moved quickly up the corporate ladder, but seven or eight years in, she was still working long hours for low pay, and she knew it wasn’t for her. 

Next up was sales and marketing for computer companies, which Moore did for about 10 years. 

“I didn’t have any kind of passion toward computers, and I didn’t really want to do sales,” she said. “But the job sort of landed in my lap. … I made a lot of money. I was bored.” 

Act 3 was as a stay-at-home mom. Moore started substitute teaching while her children were in school, and that’s when she truly found her professional niche. The elementary classes were OK, but the students wanted more attention than Moore had energy to give. Middle school was better but still not quite right. High school classes were great, though. And then one day Moore taught at an alternative school “and it was like the heavens opened up,” she said. “These are my people.” 

She spent seven years as a substitute teacher in northern California, and she loved it.  

“So, OK, I’m going to get my credential,” she said.  

Fast Forward 

Moore already had a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications, so she didn’t need to start over. She started looking for an alternative Educator Preparation Program, and that’s when she found Moreland University. She applied and joined one of Moreland’s first certification cohorts, graduating in 2015. Then she went on to earn her M.Ed. through Moreland as well.  

The programs were intense — Moore essentially gave up her social life, she said — but she was able to earn her certification in 9 months instead of 2 years, and it was a high-quality curriculum and a great education. 

When she looks back at what she accomplished, she’s proud.  

“I’m super grateful for Moreland,” she said. “It fast forwarded everything for me. It’s really intense, but it’s temporary. I’ve recommended it to a lot of people.”  

‘Kind of Mean’ 

Moore is currently a 12^th grade English teacher for the San Jose Conservation Corps Charter School, an alternative school for students anywhere from 17 ½ years old to 27. Most of her students have missed a lot of school and struggled in the traditional system. Many have rough backgrounds and haven’t necessarily had adults who believed in and supported them.  

“I want to be somebody who automatically thinks good, automatically respects them, automatically believes in them that they could be something and that they don’t have to just keep going down this path,” Moore said. 

The days are difficult but never boring. And when she sees a student succeed, that makes it all worthwhile. 

Moore had one student who would regularly refuse to do the work she assigned but who was constantly reading in her class. He was convinced he wasn’t smart, but Moore knew otherwise. 

“I said, ‘Anyone who reads the way you do with the speed and the retention — you are 100% smart,’” she said. 

That student went on to graduate and is now a welder.  

Another student came to Moore with an incredibly distressing personal life, but she ended up doing the conservation corps’ work program along with attending the charter school. From there, she got into community college and then Berkely, where she graduated with a 3.8 GPA and went on to law school.  

“It’s just incredible, and I’m so proud,” Moore said. “Quite a few of our students have gotten AA degrees (Associate in Art) and a few, a handful, maybe 5, have gotten bachelor’s degrees.” 

Moore treats her students like adults (because they are), and she tries to be tough but fair. Recently a student came up to her desk and told Moore she is like their mom. She asked if that was good or bad, and he said, “Well, you take care of us and you care about us, but you’re kind of mean.” 

Moore just laughed. Then, as the student walked away, he mumbled under his breath: “It’s good.” 

Anchor Down 

Moore continues to take professional development courses (she recently took one on AI through Moreland University), and she’s also working on her credential to teach physical education because it’s something her school needs. But apart from that, she simply wants to keep teaching and supporting her students.  

Career 1, in hotels, was unfulfilling.  

Career 2, sales, was boring.  

“I always say I’m in career No. 3, and the anchor’s down,” she said. “This is it. I found my spot. I’m old, so I should probably be retiring, but I don’t want to. And I’ve told my people here that the only way I’m leaving is with a toe tag.” 

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