Experience

I started my teaching career in Burke County, teaching elementary school. My teaching career has included teaching Computer Skills, Art, Kindergarten, 2nd and 3rd grade, as well as Exceptional Children. Since joining Caldwell County Schools, I have been privileged to work with middle and high school students. Currently, I have been working with 8th-grade EC students.

Favorite Educational Quote and Why

“Every child deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” —Rita Pierson 

I believe that students, as well as all children, should be believed in and feel the love and care of teachers and adults in their lives. The smallest light can ignite the fire that is burning in their hearts and encouragement can help them fly.

Why I Became An Educator

When all my children reached school age, I had the opportunity to return to work in the career I had chosen as a young adult. The problem, however, seemed that I had outgrown that job or perhaps transformed into a different person. As I pondered my options, I realized that I needed to change my career path to fit with my new lifestyle. I suddenly realized that I wanted to continue to be a driving force in my children's lives. It seemed that the closest thing to being a parent was being a teacher. Life is full of lessons. Some we learn formally in a classroom and others we learn from advice, guidance, and experience. I chose to continue on the path I was already on with my children, by becoming a teacher of other people's children. Over the years of teaching, I realized that I was called to a certain group of students. Those students who just needed the little extra push, the little extra understanding, the little extra belief in themselves. That is when I chose to start teaching with the exceptional children's program. Just because their brain wasn't wired like others is no different than someone's body needing help to control blood pressure. There are no judgments about the medicine we need. There should be no judgments about what our children need. I love the special connections that I am able to make. There is nothing like watching that "lightbulb" moment over and over again with my students. I have been lucky to be in this line of work. I definitely made the right choice at the crossroads of my life.

Activity

I like to play games on my iPad like puzzles, word scapes, 4 pics 1 word.