Almost every new thing is hard at first. From time to time, we all need someone, who has been there before, to show us the way. We all need a safe space in which we can try, fail, struggle a little, and try again. When things don't come easily, it is okay to ask for help. I believe in treating people with kindness, compassion, dignity, and respect; especially when an uncommon struggle is involved.
I fell in love with words when I realized that in the right combinations they were able to create visions in the minds eye, and open portals to new worlds in the imagination. I learned to respect words as I witnessed their lethal effect when used as weapons and their equally potent power to create and heal. That love and respect led to my first degree in English, Language Arts, and Poetry at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
After raising four children and experiencing the frustration of watching one of them struggle with both a physical and a learning disability, I returned to Concordia University in Portland, Oregon to acquire a Master's degree in Special Education and Educational Leadership. I wanted to help struggling students, like my child, to experience success.
I have worked in public education for over 25 years helping students, with a wide variety of concerns, grow into confident learners. I am down to earth and easy to talk to. I am a highly creative problem solver, who loves to find exciting, fun solutions that help students overcome barriers to learning.