I am Patty Petrie Director of Children's Religious Education for the UUFS. I would like to invite you and your children to join us for our two programs for this year. “Traditions with a Wink” reflects the generous and open belief that all traditions are valued. “Around the Church, Around the Year” gives our younger children the opportunity to become more familiar with UU traditions and their own church community.
I am awed by the children in our Religious Education program. They always remind me that teaching is not about giving them a definite amount of knowledge, but to inspire a fervent love of truth.
Patty was a volunteer teacher at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Sunnyvale for two years, took a break and returned to be lead teacher since 2006. Patty became the director of Religious Education of the UUFS in June of 2007. She decided to take on the position as director out of her commitment to the children.
Patty discovered her love for working with children in 1998 in a special needs program for the Santa Clara County Office of Education. She has always been drawn to working with children, and the work naturally extends to the family.
Patty was born in Detroit, Michigan, and made her first move to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she found the UU church. She found the openness of the UU church refreshing after being raised Lutheran for 18 years. When Patty moved to California, she got involved with the First Unitarian Church of Oakland; she began her volunteer work in religious education in 1985.
Patty and her partner, Michele, just celebrated their 20 year anniversary. While living in Florida for a year in 2000 they found an addition to their family, Mitzy, the cutest dog in the world and she has been a delight for seven years.