As a recently retired educator with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, I bring over 30 years of experience in teaching elementary subjects, with a particular focus on early literacy and math. My extensive training in literacy education, including Orton Gillingham and Linda Mood Bell methodologies, equips me to support struggling readers effectively. I am passionate about creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences that foster a strong foundation in reading and math for all students, especially those with diverse learning needs. My commitment to academic success is reflected in my previous role as an academic coach, where I collaborated with teachers to enhance literacy instruction across grades. In my free time, I enjoy exploring new educational resources and sharing my love for reading with my community.