I am the second oldest of four girls, and for as long as I can remember I have always loved teaching. In fact, I used to force my two younger sisters to play school. My older sister and I did well in school, but I noticed how different the school experience was for my younger sisters. I especially noticed this with my sister, Sheila, who has special needs. Due to Sheila’s special needs, she could not go to the same school as the rest of us. While Sheila had many wonderful teachers, she also had teachers who were not so great. It was really frustrating and disheartening to watch how Sheila responded to those negative school experiences and to feel powerless over how to support her.

Over the summers, Sheila would receive tutoring from one of our teachers, a woman who was so nurturing and caring, and each year when Sheila would return to school in the fall her teachers would say they noticed a huge difference in her effort and motivation, as well as her ability. That sparked my understanding that what students really need to succeed is an adult who cares about them, who can inspire them, nurture them, and help them advocate for themselves. It is my hope to provide that support for all students and families.

I went to college knowing that I either wanted to be a teacher or a pediatrician, so I majored in English knowing that it could support any field. Notre Dame did not offer Education as a major, so I minored in Education, Schooling, and Society. After college I attended graduate school at Northwestern University and received a Master of Science in Education. I always wanted to teach younger students and did my student teaching in a mixed classroom with grades 3-5. I became certified to teach middle school, but really only did that since I myself love learning and wanted to take the extra classes. I applied to work as a 1st grade teacher, but instead was hired as the 8th grade English Language Arts teacher. At first I was terrified, but I ended up loving it and stayed teaching 6th-8th grade for 10 years. While teaching I always strived to improve and be better for my students. I obtained a second masters degree - a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language - and also joined a cohort to complete my National Board portfolio, achieving National Board certification in December of 2020.

What works for one person, does not work for all people. Students need strengths-based support to help turn on their light!

With all of my experience, I now seek to work 1:1 with students to figure out what supports the student might need and create a plan for success. I know that what each student needs is unique to that student, so I base my plan on diagnostic assessments and feedback from the student and family to create a plan that is just right for that student.

There is only one you - so I work to make sure you get the scaffolds that are right for you!