About Me
I'm SO Glad You're Here!
I could have been a dentist. I could have been a marine biologist. I could have chosen to devote my life to raising children of my own. I could have been a great many things, and, so I became a teacher.
I grew up idolizing my mom who taught all grades, except for kindergarten and junior high, and after exploring a few different career options, all roads seemed to point back to the classroom. I began my teaching career in 2007 by substitute teaching for a year. After that I taught for five years for a private non-profit in a day-treatment environment, and this year marks my 10th year teaching eighth grade in a public school.
Teaching, for me, has always been demanding. Add a pandemic to the ol' teaching portfolio and it just doesn't seem like the profession is not going to get any easier. At times, this thought can be depressing, but maybe the silver lining is that we are all growing our capacity for dealing with the harsh realities and difficulties of the teaching profession.
I want teachers everywhere to love what they do and that means hacking the demands of our workloads by working smarter, not harder, and harvesting joy for ourselves and for our students. Look, I don't have all the answers, but I do believe there's lots of good stuff left in the profession, if only we're wise enough to see it.
Fast Facts
- Teaching experience: 16 years
- I've taught any and all grades from 3rd-8th, and a wide range of learners.
- Born & raised in Klamath Falls, OR.
- I'm married.
- I'm a mediocre dog-mama to the most spoiled creature on the planet: Tango the Wonder-Weim.
- I'm a daughter, PROUD aunt, sister, friend.
- I love college football and I'm a avid (rabid?) Duck fan.
- Baseball is my favorite sport to watch.
- Currently nerding out over the Savannah Bananas.
- Koalas are my favorite animal of all time.
- I enjoy traveling, being with family, cooking, napping, reading, collage-ing, baking, long walks, yoga, listening to podcasts, and relaxing!
The Learning Lab
My classroom often feels like a home away from home, of sorts. As long as there are loads of books ready to access, everything will be okay.
Any guesses on how long this particular seating arrangement lasted?