Mrs. Gallaher has been married for 36 years and is a mother of 7 children who were educated in ways including home schooling. She graduated to Grandmother in 2014 and currently has 6 grandchildren. She says that it is exciting to be sharing books with her grandchildren that she first read to her children.  

As an occasional substitute teacher at Saint Sebastian Elementary school and Saint Augustine Academy in Santa Paula, California, she has had the opportunity to educate young students and share her love of science, history and literature.

She believes that the literature that children read should interest them, entertain them, and educate them. 

She believes that it is essential that we teach the children about history and science in our faith. She says that there are many Catholics, even saints, who were scientists and learning about these people can make faith, history and science more interesting. 

Every year that passes teaches her the importance of faith and family. She hopes to encourage those around her to love the Lord first in all they do. 

Mrs. Desme is a Bakersfield native who is married and is blessed with three grown children and five grandchildren.

She enjoys gardening, reading, walking, and traveling to see her grandchildren in Kansas and Florida.  She helps out at St. Francis Church for Monday night dinners.

This is her third year at SJVA after teaching preschool for 9 years at St. Philips.

She is passionate about finding her students strengths and love’s watching them learn.