I am passionate about teaching because I believe that all students can learn and grow if they are taught in way that resonates with them. What I mean by that is that all students are individuals with different backgrounds, learning styles, strengths and challenges. A teacher's job, in addition to teaching the material itself, is to build relationships with individual students so that they can present the material in a way that will maximize the learning that takes place. There is no better feeling than seeing a student understand a concept, especially when they have been struggling with it for awhile. I especially love teaching math because many students seem to dislike math and assume they are not "good" at math. It's fun to see them recognize that they can develop skills to comprehend much more than they ever thought possible.
I graduated from Metro State University in Denver, Colorado with a master's degree in Elementary Education and an endorsement in CLD (culturally and linguistically diverse learners). While I was at MSU, I had the opportunity to do several teaching practicums, including at an international school in Bucerias, Mexico. My teaching certificate is in Elementary education and I have endorsements in (am qualified to teach) Middle School Math and CLD. My teaching experiences include elementary classroom teacher, working as a Math Fellow in high school level math intervention and teaching 6th grade (middle school) math. My experience working with diverse students, including marginalized ones, has strengthened my belief that all students can develop and find academic success. This experience has also reinforced my determination to make sure that every student has equitable opportunities and access to education.