Compassionate, understanding, creative, organized, dedicated, inventive, goofy
My greatest achievement was when I received Teacher of the Year from the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce in 2017. This was my 5th, most challenging but rewarding year of teaching. I was a Special Education teacher for students with mild intellectual disabilities and autism for grades K-5. One of my students, along with his family, lost their lives in a house fire. Navigating loss with young students, especially ones with special needs was no small feat. I stepped into roles I never thought I would for my students and my school. I believe it truly put everything into perspective for me. My attitude quickly went from “I have to do this” to “I get to do this.” It’s an amazing feeling to wake up and make some kind of impact on someone, in some way, each and every day.
I hope to help mold my students into kind and understanding human beings. I hope to instill love into their hearts so that they always choose it. I also hope to teach them the importance of perseverance. That even when the odds are stacked against them or if something feels out of reach, amazing things can be accomplished through hard work and by trying their best.
