Karen Fernandez - Author - The Faces of San Diego

Karen Fernandez has lived in North County, Carlsbad for over 25 years. She has taught locally in the Poway Unified School District, Carlsbad Unified School District and Encinitas Unified School District. She was involved in and taught classes for the Christian Family Schools homeschool group in Carlsbad. She served as an Olivenhain Valley 4H Community Club Leader and was also parent leader for the Speech and Presentation OV4H Group. Karen is the author of ABC Trace and Say Alphabet Book and Nurturing Little Readers- A Parent’s Guide to Early Education. She started the ABC Trace and Say Learning Center as an online place parents can go to find the resources and information they need to create a rich early literacy environment in their home, for their child.

Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?

I taught in the public school system for 13 years as a kindergarten- third grade teacher, I was an early literacy specialist and a Reading Recovery Teacher. I tutor children and teach literacy groups at Coastal Sage Montessori. I also privately tutor children in reading, write articles for magazines, and write books on early literacy for parents and children.

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.

My husband and I have been blessed with 27 years of marriage. Our daughter, who is 22, is currently attending USD and preparing for her senior year. We all love to travel, read books, try new recipes in the kitchen and on the BBQ, and we all share a LOVE for animals.

Q: Please tell us about your life and what you do. How did you choose that path?

I chose to be a reading teacher because reading opens all the doors to other subjects and being literate offers opportunities and opens doors that are closed to people who cannot read. There has never been a more important time to be able to read and think critically about what you read. The reading journey starts at home and parents are the best and first teachers a child has.

Q: What do you love most about what you do?

I love working with children and helping set them up for lifelong success as a reader and to be a lifelong learner. I also love helping parents navigate the early years of literacy for their child.

Q: What was the most difficult challenge in getting to where you are now or in your life?

The most challenging part of creating the tactile book ABC Trace and Say Alphabet Book was the tactile part. Children learn best through multisensory techniques and my goal with ABC Trace and Say Alphabet Book was that children would see the letter, hear the sound of the letter from their parents saying the sound when tracing it, and FEEL the letter as the traced it with their fingers. Finding the appropriate tactile component for the book took some time and some help but the end result is so beneficial for children.

Q: What is the most rewarding part?

Children who get excited about a favorite book and want to share what they loved about the book. I feel successful when a child feels they have mastered reading, like they finally broke the code and can do it independently. I am happy when we can break reading down into manageable chunks for small learners. Kids are supposed to enjoy the process of learning to read and when that happens it’s a win because they will always want to be a reader.

Q: What are some of your future goals? Do you have anything exciting coming up that you would like to share?

We are hoping to get more outreach to parents of young children through our website ABC Trace and Say Learning Center, to provide resources for parents of young children. Our goal is to help parents prepare their child for a reading program. To set the foundation from birth to age five so that when the child starts a formal reading program they are successful. I love to write, so I hope to continue to write books for children.

Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in doing something similar to what you have done/are doing?

Any kind of job that serves others is going to be rewarding. Working with the youngest members of our community is a blessing. I would say do what you love and give back.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?

Writing books, helping parents and children in the homeschool community (we homeschooled for eight years), and hopefully enjoying my grandchildren.

Our Community

What neighborhood do you live in?

South Carlsbad

Q: What is your favorite thing about our community, favorite thing to do, or something unique about our community that you love?

I can be to so many great places in a five-mile radius.

I love that we have so many outdoor things to do. Hiking, surfing, walking, amusement parks, outdoor malls, horse riding trails, tide pools are just a few we love.

Q: Do you have a favorite coffee shop, cocktail shop, or restaurant?

Waverly and Herb and Sea

Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?

I love Carter’s feed store in Encinitas. I miss going in to buy feed for our rabbits and sheep. We were involved in Olivenhain Valley 4H for many, many years and I am often nostalgic for raising sheep and rabbits.

For Fun

Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?

Jane Austen, I love books and so it would be someone who wrote something I loved and probably tea at Lofty.

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

I love to garden! I have fruit trees and garden boxes and I love to grow my own food.

Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?

San Diego

Q: Who inspires you to be better?

My family.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

To think critically and think outside the box.

Q: Any general life advice you would like to share?

It goes so fast, so enjoy the everyday things.

Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME? Good food, good company and laughter.