Education has always been my passion ever since I was a young child. Every summer I would visit my aunt in New Jersey. She was a teacher on Staten Island. I would sit in her spare bedroom, look through all her materials, and pretend I was the teacher. Also, when I was a child, I did not like the thought of going to school. I fought daily to stay home. When I told my parents that I wanted to go to college for elementary education, they could not believe it. I told them that I did not want students to cringe at the idea of school, and I wanted them to want to come to school each day.

I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Slippery Rock University. I currently carry my level II Certification in the state of Pennsylvania. I began to be a substitute teacher for schools in my area. After two years, I secured a teaching job in second grade. This was considered a "bubble" class, so I moved to third grade the following year. I taught third grade for 13 years. I am currently a sixth-grade English teacher, and this is my eighth year in this position. I teach my students grammar, writing, and vocabulary.

I believe that students need to enjoy learning for them to WANT to learn. I try to adapt my lessons in several different ways to meet the needs of all my students. I try to use the hands-on approach as many students are tactile learners. I also like to try to incorporate games and fun into my lessons. Children can be so competitive, and when you utilize different games and activities in the lessons, they think of it as "fun" and not necessarily learning.

I am continuously building positive relationships with my students. I want them to trust me to guide them into becoming a successful citizen. I believe in my students and praise them for their accomplishments. I also serve on the SAP team or my school. I want them to have joy in learning and to be the best they can be!