Meet the Teacher

Welcome to my NEW and IMPROVED blog!  I'm excited about creating a new blog to correlate with the new curriculum I am teaching this upcoming school year.  Let's go back to the beginning...

I was born and raised a Hoosier in the heart of Boilermaker country, so naturally that is where I had to attend college!  I went to Purdue initially to be a nurse.  After three years, I transferred into education.  I got very involved with the college of education as a student.  I worked with a doctoral candidate very closely helping her with her doctoral research.  I also got very involved with Kappa Delta Pi educational honors society, and with Purdue's GERI (Gifted Education Resource Institute) program.  I also built many relationships with my professors, which helped me in my studies.  I helped with Read Across America, tutored, and taught classes for the GERI program.  I feel that my involvement in the university helped me become a better educator.  When I graduated in 2006, I received a Bachelor's in Elementary Education K-6, Reading K-6, and started a Master's in Gifted Education.

 My first job was a temporary position teaching 5th grade at Edgelea Elementary.  I loved the school and staff!  It felt like a community and collaborative family.  I hated leaving, but I found a permanent home at Vinton Elementary teaching kindergarten.  I loved teaching kindergarten, and felt that it was the most rewarding grade.  They came in knowing NOTHING, and left as readers and writers.   It was the best intrinsic feeling!  While teaching at Vinton, I finished my Gifted and Talented license, and received my Master's from Indiana Wesleyan in Educational Studies.  After four years of teaching kindergarten, I decided to utilize my Gifted and Talented license, and moved to Sunnyside.

 When I went to Sunnyside, I took a position teaching 5th grade Challenge Humanities (Language Arts and Social Studies).  I had the most amazing teaching partner, and we made a great team and had amazing students!  While teaching, I finished my Principal's License at Indiana Wesleyan.  As a principal candidate, I was able to work closely with our district's Assistant Superintendent.  This was a phenomenal experience as I gained a better insight of what it means and takes to be an effective leader.  At Sunnyside, I coach the 6th grade Cheerleading squad, sponsor the Student Ambassadors and Student Council, and run the school's incentive store.  This year I switched subjects, and am teaching 5th grade STEM (science and math), and am excited about my new adventure!            Outside of school...

 I have three little ones...although they aren't so little any more!  My youngest is a boy, and keeps me VERY busy.  He is 2 and very active!  He also thinks he's a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.  He carries about three swords in the back of each shirt...needless to say he's stretched out the collars of all his shirts, but as long as he's protecting the world, I guess it's okay!

Next up is my middle, and she is 6.  She is going into first grade, and was accepted into a Gifted and Talented program.  She is very busy with soccer, softball, dance, girl scouts, and church group.  She is very smart, and likes to spend most of her time reading and practicing her math skills!  

Last but not least is my oldest, she is 13.  She is involved in anything and everything.  She plays volleyball, basketball, runs track, is a cheerleader (at my alma mater, check out our side by side), dancer, and is actively involved in our church.  I am her personal taxi, but wouldn't have it any other way!

I hope you enjoy in my blog!  If you have any questions, please let me know!  :)