Where are you currently teaching?
5th grade ELA at West Newton Elementary School
What inspired you to go into teaching? Was there a specific moment or experience that solidified your decision to become an educator? Were there significant teachers or mentors that shaped your experience? How did they impact you?
I was inspired to go into teaching for two reasons. The first reason, like many teachers, is my passion for working with children. From babysitting, to summer camp, to tutoring, I spent many of my adolescent years working with children. The second reason is because I was inspired by my mother’s childhood. My mom was in and out of different foster homes throughout her childhood. Unfortunately, she had many traumatic experiences as a result of these stays. However, with a combination of her own will power and a handful of significant people she was able to rise above the challenges that life handed her. Inspired by her success and ability to overcome challenges, I wanted the opportunity to be one of the people who could impact children in similar circumstances.
How do you spend your summers?
My summer is spent watching my two children grow and play. We love exploring parks and other activities in the Indianapolis area. Once a week, my dad will watch them while I get to grow myself professionally. On those days, I read recent research as well as update lessons and activities for the upcoming year.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
I love working with children. When with adults, I struggle with social anxiety. However, it is much different with kids. My quirks and differences are what make my classroom interesting for them. Likewise, they appreciate and learn from when I am honest with them about my own challenges.
Is there anything you gain from being a teacher that other careers don’t offer?
In teaching there is never a dull moment. In prior jobs, I spent a majority of the time looking at the clock or finding a way to keep mentally stimulated. In teaching, this has never been a problem. It is a fast paced job with endless opportunities to grow and improve your practice. If you decide to teach, I can guarantee you will never be bored.
What would you tell a student who’s interested in teaching?
If you are interested in teaching, look for the positive, honest voices. Right now there is a lot of negative jargon about teaching in the media. There are certainly challenges that need to be addressed, but the negativity can smother all of the good things about teaching. If you find a good, supportive school, you can be very happy and experience all of the wonderful positives of teaching.
How do you hope to inspire the next generation of teachers?
I hope to show the next generation of teachers to have confidence in their teaching abilities. As teachers we know what is best for our students. Advocate for both their needs and yours. You owe it to both yourself and your students to have your voice heard.
What is your favorite day out of the school year?
I love Book Fair! I am lucky that my current school has Book Fair multiple times a year. I’m not sure what kind of PTO magic they use, but even reluctant readers get excited for the Book Fair. I usually use the Book Fair to buy 2-3 new books based on class requests. Since the class requested them, they immediately get passed around as the “must read” books of the class. As a reading teacher, it is so fun to see kids argue over who gets to read the book first.
What is your favorite part about decorating your classroom? Have you ever had a favorite theme?
Instead of decorating my classroom to a theme, I like to reset it each year to a blank canvas. I do like to bring in plants from home as well as a handful of decorations I like. However, each year, I prefer to have the students help decorate the room. We cover the room in their art, pictures, and work. I love how each year brings their unique personalities to the room.
If you could leave your classroom and teach anywhere in the school building for the day, where would it be?
I would love to spend a day as a Reading Interventionist. This is because a Reading Interventionist spends their time in Small Groups. These small groups are more personal and are hyper-focused on student growth. It is so exciting to see students make gains, a Reading Interventionist certainly gets to see that up close and personal.
Where did you attain your teaching degree?
The University of Indianapolis
Are there any other certifications, awards, or items you would like to list?
I received Teacher of the Year in the 2020-2021 school year for leading the Kindergarten building in remote instruction at the beginning of the pandemic.