I am a graduate of Western Governors University where I received my Master of Arts degree in English Language Learning. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Puerto Rican Studies from York College. I am a certified ESL instructor with a reading endorsement. I have taught ESL, reading, and ELA in a traditional classroom setting for over 20 years. For the past four years, I have worked with international sports players looking to improve their English. I also worked as an online English instructor for students in China. I am passionate about teaching English (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) while honoring students' native languages. This passion came from the experiences of my own siblings who lost their first language because there was no support available when they arrived in the United States. In my experience, helping students attain English proficiency not only helps the students but their families as well. This is why teaching has been such a rewarding profession, and I am a firm proponent of education, believing it to be absolutely necessary for an improved quality of life. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, dancing, listening to music, gardening, traveling with my family, and playing with my two dogs.