The most interesting thing about me is the work I do with the children of this school, but if you really want to know more...
I can honestly say that I'm a "life long learner" and that curiosity and passion has lead me to 15 fabulous years as a 3rd grade teacher at Forest Creek Elementary and now I'm beginning my third year as a 2nd grade teacher. My path here was not particularly direct!
In school, I loved reading and art. So I majored in Industrial Engineering at West Virginia University. Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it? I can't explain it, but mistakes are learning too. Eventually I changed my major and graduated with a BS in Journalism.
After working in advertising for several years,I earned my MBA in Marketing from the University of Pittsburgh and changed the direction of my career once again.
I met my wonderful husband Greg at the company where I was the Marketing Manager, so I certainly wouldn't change that. After our daughter Alyssa was born, we followed his job ... sliding south from Pennsylvania to Virginia to North Carolina and finally Texas.
I started volunteering for my daughter's first grade class (here at FCE) and got hooked on working with kids. I was an educational assistant for two years (yup, still at FCE) before I returned to LeTourneau University for my teaching certification.
As a family, we sponsor several children in Honduras and travel there frequently on mission trips. The organization that we belong to, Friends of Los Ninos, focuses on meeting the health and educational needs for children and building relationships. I will frequently talk to my class about my other kids Pepe, Jazmin, Carolina and Reyna.
And here we are. I am so grateful to find my calling as a teacher. I have a wonderful family to travel with, four cats (I promise we aren't crazy, we really have just two pets and two ferals) and a Kindle full of books -- what more can I ask for? I'm still learning too: most recently my silhouette and putting vinyl on all the things, fishing, beading, and conversational Spanish (with varying shades of success).
I am excited to learn more as I embark on another year with funny, inquisitive, sweet and capable students!
