Mrs. Klein was born and raised in Santa Maria.  Both she and her husband attended local schools, as did her children.  She is a 1979 Graduate of SMHS. Mrs. Klein is a lifetime member of AAUW (American Association of University Women), TBPi (Tau Beta Pi - the National Engineering Honor Society), ΧΩ (Chi Omega - a national Fraternity), GSUSA (Girl Scouts of the USA - where she is a trainer/adult facilitator) and Grace Lutheran Church.

• Graduated from Santa Maria High School in 1979
• BS in Petroleum Engineering from University of Southern California, 1982
• Teaching Credentials in Physical Science, Mathematics, and Multiple Subjects from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 1985
• National Board Professional Teaching in Early Adolescence Mathematics (grades 5 - Algebra 2), 2003
• Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 2011
• Administration Credential from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 2011
• Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy from Pepperdine, 2015
• Dissertation:  Teacher Leadership Practices, Supports, and Challenges in Implementation of the Common Core High School Math Standards

Mrs. Klein began teaching math and science and math electives at Greenfield Middle School.  She then moved to Northern California and worked as the OCS teacher, security guard, long-term sub in Algebra 2, Basic and Pascal Programming, and Middle school math and science teacher.  Moving back to Santa Maria she taught English and History and supervised intramurals during a Jr. High long term sub job before coming back to Santa Maria High School to teach Basic Math, Math A, Algebra, IMP 1,2,3  and Geometry. She has taught summer school, Cyber High and in the Algebra Academy for many years, was the class advisor for 2007 (with Ms.  Quaid), and for 2010, advised the Student and Teachers Rebelling Against Prejudice (STRAP) club and the Asian-Pacific Club. Mrs. Klein is also involved in schoolwide committees including a past member of Shared Decision Making, the 2013 SMHS Western Association of Schools and Colleges lead writer and facilitator, PTA teacher representative, Collaboration Leader, Career Paths Facilitator under the Restructuring Grant, Quality Education Grant budget subcommittee member, schoolwide data TOSA and School Site Council teacher representative. Currently, Dr. Klein is developing and teaching the curriculum for the 9th-grade Algebra Prep class, a shadowed Algebra 1 class (named Algebra Academy) designed to develop students' growth mindset, confidence, problem-solving skills, grit, successful habits, and routines alongside the essential Algebra 1 standards.