At which school in the district do you teach?
I teach at Chipperfield Elementary School.
What subject(s) do you teach?
I am a Reading Specialist.
What grade(s) do you teach?
I teach grades Kindergarten through fourth grade.
How long have you been teaching at SASD?
I have been teaching here for the past 18 1/2 years.
What is your favorite part about teaching?
There is a quote, “To be successful, the first thing to do is fall in love with your work:” I absolutely love what I do. Teaching is not an easy job, but the students make all the hard work I put into it worth it.
If you could teach another subject what would it be and why?
I taught third grade and first grade over the years. I am now teaching the subject that I always wanted to, Reading. Teaching reading is very rewarding, I love seeing the growth in students and how their confidence grows in my classroom.
If you had gone into another profession, what would it be and why?
If I had to pick another profession it would be a pediatric nurse. I would pick this profession because I love working with children and making a difference in their lives.
What is one piece of advice you would share with your students?
I tell my students to be kind, always ask questions, and try their best.
If you could have one superpower what would it be and why?
If I could have one superpower it would be to have the ability to teleport. I would love to travel around the world, but I am not a fan of airplanes.
How and when did you know teaching was what you wanted to do?
I always knew I wanted to work with children. I wanted to either become a nurse or a teacher. I was the child at parties or family gatherings always surrounded by younger children. I would play with them and read to them. It was my senior year of high school when I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in teaching.
Who do you look up to?
I look up to my parents. They taught me to work hard and take pride in everything that I do. I am lucky to have loving parents who always support me and are there for me when I need them.
What will your life look like after you retire?
I hope to travel with my husband after I retire, relax, enjoy good books while relaxing in the sun, spend more time with my family, and volunteer my time at church.
What is your favorite memory of teaching?
My favorite memory would have to be my first day of student teaching in a first-grade classroom. I was so excited to be there, that I could not stop smiling. I knew that day that I made the correct choice.
What is one thing you wish people knew about teaching/teachers in general?
One thing that I wish people knew about teaching is that it is not easy, but if you love what you do, it makes the struggles worth it.
What makes you smile?
Many things make me smile: my family, my students, my friends, and a perfect sunny day on my porch with a good book.
When you retire one day, what will you miss most about teaching?
When I retire one day, I will miss the students the most. I love seeing them each day. The students are the reason I started teaching. I can see myself volunteering in classrooms in the future. I think I would be pretty sad just leaving all at once.
What is something your students have taught you?
My students have taught me to love life, to find joy in the smallest things, and keep smiling.
