After 21 years of teaching and coaching I find myself searching for some answers. So far I have found only more questions. My personal journey has currently led me to running programs at my school that push our top academic students. I use the NHS, Gifted program, AP courses, BotsIQ and other STEM competitions to make these students struggle, be uncomfortable and then grow. Sounds great right, wrong at the same time I’ve noticed a slide in other areas and haven’t been able to address the issue effectively. A large portion of my students seem to be just getting by and leaving unprepared for the future. In an attempt to remedy the situation, this year I have joined every team and signed up for every training I can find to search for these answers. Bottom line, students are changing and instruction needs to be changing to meet this need.

Hello fellow educators! I have been an educator myself for 18 years; I have taught English and special education at both the middle and high school levels. I also coach middle and high school cross country and track & field. One constant in all of that is the passion to teach and coach students. Like many, I was inspired by others to travel down the path of education. Both my parents were English teachers and inspired me to help others find success. I also had an English teacher in high school that taught me that education and learning can be fun and inspired me to connect the classroom to my real world experiences.

Education is about GROWTH. I want to continue to grow as an educator as well as see growth in my learners. To do that, I want to continue to collaborate with others to incorporate creative, engaging, and effective practices into the classroom in order to see that growth and success.

I am excited to be working amongst this dedicated team of ambassadors. I have been teaching for the past 18 years, but my passion for education started way before that—-I wrote every “what do I want to be when I grow up paper” about being a teacher, starting at just 8 years old. However, I truly realized I was exactly where I was meant to be early in my career when I met a student who was struggling. He felt like no one believed in him and thought he was destined for jail, but in my classroom, he said he finally found a sense of belonging. Years later, he overcame the odds and became a math teacher himself. That experience shaped my mission as an educator—-to ensure that every student feels valued, supported, and capable of success. I want them to know they belong here. I strive to do what is best for my students both academically and socially. However our world is constantly changing. If we do not change with it, we risk losing our students. As educators, we must adapt, support, and prepare our students for this constantly changing world.

I strive to ensure that education is a unique, engaging and meaningful experience for my classroom family. Through classroom transformations and connecting mathematics into real-world scenarios, I strive to ensure that my students are exposed to various careers and opportunities beyond the classroom. Public education is the institution that supports all learners, not just some. I want to continue advocating for the positivity and curiosity that Jefferson-Morgan and other schools across the commonwealth and beyond bring to children on a daily basis.

I’m thrilled to join this Personalized Learning Ambassadorship, working alongside such innovative educators. My fourteen-year teaching journey across diverse districts has exposed me to unique student and staff populations, providing invaluable lessons that I’m eager to share with this cohort. I firmly believe that every student in our public education system can thrive, given the right opportunities. Reflecting on my own education, I realized that my most significant personal growth occurred in classes that challenged me, demanding perseverance and grit. It’s this understanding that fuels my dedication to helping students cultivate that same resilience. With hard work, dedication, and a healthy dose of grit, anyone can achieve learning success. My personal goal is to guide students on their individual learning journeys, providing them with the stepping stones to future success. Ultimately, I hope to inspire a lifelong love of learning and growth in all students.

I have loved teaching 2nd-grade reading intervention for the last 3 years. My journey into teaching was shaped by my own experience as a student. I had a unique learning style and had to work harder to pay attention, often taking much longer to finish assignments. I loved learning, but traditional lessons—textbooks, workbook pages, and PowerPoints—didn’t help me retain much. I would remember information just long enough to pass a test and then forget it. But when learning was hands-on, everything clicked. I still remember building a Rube Goldberg machine for a science project—it was the first time force and motion truly made sense to me. The process of designing and testing each step helped me grasp the concept far better than any worksheet could.

Now, as a teacher, I strive to create meaningful learning opportunities that spark the same excitement in my students. I take the time to understand how each of my students learns best, set goals that are tailored to their needs, and use multisensory tools and phonics games to keep them engaged. My goal is to provide experiences that make learning fun and memorable, helping students succeed—especially those who learn differently, just like I did. I am committed to fostering a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom, inspiring my students to become lifelong learners who actively seek knowledge throughout their lives.

With 18 years of teaching experience, I have had the privilege of working in high school learning support, K-5 learning support, Kindergarten, and for the past six years, as a 4th-grade teacher.

My philosophy centers on recognizing and embracing individual learning styles to create an engaging, supportive classroom.

Building strong relationships is key. By fostering respect, empathy, and collaboration, I empower students to take ownership of their learning. I also value open communication with families to support each child’s journey.

My goal is to inspire a lifelong love of learning by making education meaningful, personalized, and engaging.