Who Am I?
What I Do
I am a third grade teacher with 15+ years of experience in both 3rd and 4th grade classrooms. I began creating teaching resources in 2016 to help upper elementary school teachers better serve their students.
My Educational Background
I started my college career secure in the knowledge that I was headed for the Broadway stage. However, that was not in the cards for me. After graduating from Ohio Valley College (now University) in Parkersburg, West Virginia, I moved to Masschusetts. I spent several years as a supervisor for Borders Books as I tried to determine my new, non-theatrical, purpose in life. While there, I became a trainer, which helped me to see that I had a knack for teaching. At some point during this time, I saw a documentary about the Cambridge Friends School which was located close-ish to where I was living in the Greater Boston area. What struck me was the diversity mindset that was taught at the school and sparked in me a passion to become an elementary school teacher.
After leaving my bookseller career, I began working as a Pre-K teacher’s assistant at an academic daycare. I learned a lot about about kids and teaching during this time, which only intensified my drive to pursue my dream of becoming a certified teacher. Shortly after, I moved back home to Texas where I became alternatively certified to teach elementary school through Tarleton State University. My first year of teaching was in 2005 and I was hired to teach a 4th grade self-contained class. It has been my great fortune to serve my entire teaching career at the same school and in my 15 years at my campus, I have taught both 3rd and 4th grade and have been both self-contained and departmentalized as a math and science teacher at times, as well as departmentalized as a literacy teacher.
Two years ago, I took my two greatest loves – books and the theatre – and turned them into after school opportunities for the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at our school by starting an after school kids book club and an after school drama club. To my great delight, both were met with enthusiasm by the students at our school!no
My Philosophy
- I believe first and foremost, great teachers build great relationships with their students. Students need to know that we love and care about them and that we accept them exactly as they are regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, first language, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
- I believe that all students are able to learn and should have access to excellent educational opportunities and materials.
- I believe that students should see that their teachers are human beings capable of mistakes, but that we are also open to learning to do better and will apologize when we are wrong.