Karen Batten graduated with a BA in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1994. During her college years, Karen spent a trimester abroad in Morelia, Mexico, and took a year off from her studies to live and work in Heilbronn and Stuttgart, Germany.
Karen isn't one of those people who knew she wanted to be a teacher from the time she was seven. She always had a long list of interests, hobbies, and possible college majors. Her decision to become a teacher came to her sometime in the year after she graduated. She considered several career possibilities, most involving extensive schooling, before she realized it was school itself that was her passion.
Karen continued her studies at San Jose State University where she got a BA in Spanish and a California teaching credential.
Karen has taught Spanish in California, Washington, and Oregon. She is currently teaching Spanish and Social Studies in Oakridge, Oregon.
Karen has completed the first phase of her Masters at the University of Salamanca in Spain.