I graduated from John Carroll University, OH in 1994 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Elementary Education (K-8) along with a Reading Endorsement (K-12) and a Spanish minor. In 2000, I obtained my Masters of Arts in Special Education from Central Michigan University. I am currently licensed in Ohio, Hawai'i, and North Carolina. I taught in Hawai'i for 27 years. I was a classroom teacher in kindergarten, second, and third grades. I also helped to pilot and teach a Title I reading program for grades K-2 for four years. Through my reading resource position, I co-taught other teachers foundational reading skills. During this time, I also co-developed our school's Positive Behavior Supports program. The program included a school-wide matrix for desired behaviors in all settings, a school-wide reward program, and paper documentation system.

I then moved to the English Language Learner department, where I was a resource teacher for kindergarten and fourth grade classrooms. I also coordinated the EL curriculum, federally mandated testing, school-wide teacher training, and mentored three part-time teachers and two full time EL teachers within the department.

Participating in the early literacy trainings from the Universities of Hawai'i and Oregon impacted my best practices in early literacy with the five big ideas in beginning reading instruction. The Maui Reading Academy training introduced me to additional best practices by focusing on the struggling reader and English Language learners. This experience encouraged me to mentor teachers and share my wealth of knowledge and training. Experiences with Positive Behavior Supports and listening to current education researchers speak has inspired me to be pro-active in my teaching and behavior expectations. It has instilled the importance of humor and laughter in my classrooms.

I encourage students to think critically and problem solve so that they may discover creative solutions. Ultimately, student self assessment and goal setting allow children to develop insights into their learning, to find out their strengths and to gain confidence. Children have taught me to open my mind and my heart to the everyday joys and struggles in the diverse world around us.