Gabrielle

Certified Tutor

As a young child, I was excited about school and loved any opportunity to learn about events and people. I grew up in Parsippany, New Jersey and went through their public school system from Kindergarten through 12th grade. The teachers I had made me feel like I had something to offer the world. I immersed myself in books and new experiences and wrote about the things I discovered and imagined. My passion for investigating and writing lead me to Ramapo College of NJ where I studied Communications, Journalism, and Political Science. After completing many internships in news and public relations, attending a Capitol Semester in Washington D.C., and writing for the Ramapo News, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts.

Quickly after graduation, I realized that this career wasn't going to fulfill me in the way I thought it would. I thought back to my babysitting, nanny, and tutoring jobs and realized that nothing else in my life had ever made me feel as gratified as creating an environment for children to grow, feel nurtured, and learn. Children taught me so much about myself in my young adulthood and the idea of being an educator where I could make a career out of teaching and learning seemed like the obvious choice. I quickly applied for teacher assistant and aide jobs in schools nearby and applied to Montclair State University. There, I am pursuing my Master's and teaching certifications in Elementary Education and Students with Disabilities.

Working in Special Education as a classroom aide for 1.5 years in Wharton, and then substitute teaching in Parsippany for the following year, affirmed for me that I had found my niche. My coursework at MSU combined with my work experience and my student teaching experience has allowed me to develop a teaching style that welcomes and values all students and families, understands how to address the diverse learning needs present in modern day classrooms, and build cooperative communities that reach all students.