English/Reading Faculty
Full-Time
Susan Klein, Coordinator
I began teaching full time at Cypress College in 1999 and have been the department coordinator since 2002. Early in my career, I taught high school English and reading, including a year in Japan, then took time off to be with my children before coming to Cypress as an adjunct instructor. I have taught in the UTAP learning community, am a member of the Foundation Scholarship Committee, and enjoy teaching both developmental and transfer level courses. My primary focus has been English 106 (both on campus and online), English 58, and more recently English 137 online. I enjoy time with my family, gardening, reading, music, and home-building trips with my church. If you have questions about our courses or policies, feel free to phone, send an email to sklein@cypresscollege.edu, or drop by my office.
Nancy Deutsch
Community colleges have allowed me to spread my wings and try things I never thought I could do. As a student, community college instructors challenged me and taught me the skills I needed to succeed when I transferred to a university. Years ago a friend suggested that I teach in college and then shared a quotation, attributed to Henry Ford. As a result, I changed my career path. Since 1984, I have been a full-time instructor in the Reading Department. Teaching reading, writing, and study skills in the community college has been my vocation; coaching my students and watching them grow into independent learners have brought me much pride, joy, and fulfillment. Since 2002, I have been working full-time in the college’s faculty and staff development office and writing and managing federal grants to improve teaching and student learning. What was the quotation that changed my life? "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." Find your passion, believe in yourself, and work hard to achieve your goals.
Cherie Dickey
I have been teaching full time at Cypress College since 2000. Before that, I worked part-time through the DSPS Department on campus from 1991 – 1997 as a sign-language interpreter and coordinator of services for our deaf and hard-of-hearing students. I live in Cypress, and my children have gone through the Cypress schools. I primarily teach our English 57, 58, and 27 courses and am busy with campus and district committee responsibilities as the president of our Cypress College Academic Senate. I hope you enjoy your classes at Cypress as much as I enjoy teaching them. Please feel free to contact me at cdickey@cypresscollege.edu with any questions - large or small.
Cathy Franklin
For many years I worked as a Reading Department adjunct instructor at Cypress College, but in 2005 I made the transition to full-time teaching. Most recently I have been teaching English 58 and English 106, but in previous semesters I taught English 27, English 57, and English 137 as well. In addition to my classroom duties, I also serve on the Curriculum Committee. The Reading Department at Cypress College is outstanding, and teaching here is rewarding and fun. When I am not working, I enjoy reading, running, and spending time with family and friends. I love working with students, and if I can answer any questions or concerns, please contact me at cfranklin@cypresscollege.edu.
Ruth Gutierrez
This will be my first year teaching here at Cypress College. I will be teaching English 58 and English 106. I have spent the last 13 years teaching Literacy and History for Santa Ana Unified School District. During that time I spent four years as a part-time Reading instructor for Santa Ana College. I am an alumni of Santa Ana College and Cal State Fullerton. In my spare time I enjoy being with my husband Rene’, my nine-year old son Sam and my six year-old daughter Annemarie. I am looking forward to working with all of you and if you have any questions please feel free to contact by phone or email at rgutierrez@cypresscollege.edu.
Sarah Jones
I have been teaching full time at Cypress College since 2000.Previous to this position, I taught full time for 3 years at San Bernardino Valley College. I primarily teach English 58 and English 137, and I offer campus and online sections for both of these courses. In addition to teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children. Ashley is 5 and Mitchell is 2, so they keep us very busy. I look forward to working with you. If can be of any assistance, please let me know. I am easily available through campus email at sjones@cypresscollege.edu.
Barbara Kashi
I began my college level teaching career in 1992 as an adjunct reading teacher at Santa Ana College and at Cypress College, and I have been a full time faculty member at Cypress College since 2000. I earned my BA at Seattle University and my MA at CSFU in 1992. Although I have taught every reading course that Cypress College offers at one time or another, the past few semesters I have focused on English 58 and an online offering of English 96. I am the chair of Reading Department Scholarship Committee. If you have any questions concerning our classes or our department, please contact me by email at bkashi@cypresscollege.edu.
Keith Vescial
I became a full-time instructor for Cypress College in 2006. I came to the college and to the Reading Department in a bit of a roundabout way. My first serious job after university was as a civilian industrial hygienist and environmental health and safety trainer for the US Army in Europe. For a large portion of my twenties I lived overseas-first in Spain, then Germany, then Italy, and then Germany again. I returned to the United States in 1999 and decided to become a teacher. I began teaching at the community college and fell in love with it. From 1999 to 2005, I taught part-time at Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College. Also, from 2001 to 2006, I had the pleasure of teaching full-time for Paramount Unified School District at Paramount High School Academy. At Cypress, I teach English 57, English 58, and English 106. You can contact me at kvescial@cypresscollege.edu.
