What inspired you to become a teacher?
I always knew I wanted to work with children, but didn’t know if that would be through healthcare, education, or another path. After starting education classes in college, I just knew it was the path for me.
Who inspires you the most?
The kiddos!! Their excitement and curiosity make me want to learn new things, too and join in on the fun!
How has becoming a teacher changed for you over the years?
Quite a bit! I actually started off in higher ed, first teaching high school Spanish and then at a local college. While I love and appreciate my years there and all that I learned in those years, I have found over time that tiny humans are who truly light up my passion for teaching and I’ve been in early childhood and elementary the last 10 years and loving it!
If you weren’t teaching, what career would you have chosen?
If I weren’t teaching, I’d own a little bed and breakfast somewhere quiet near a lake in the mountains or a quiet beach, but not too far from civilization. Cooking for others is my love language and who wouldn’t want to live somewhere people look at as a getaway?
Growing up, who was your most inspirational teacher and why?
Mrs Borkas in Kindergarten was so patient and kind and really understood how to connect with all of the kids in class. I was quiet and shy and needed some time to get warmed up to the other kids in the morning. She knew I loved the little wooden dollhouse in the classroom and would have it waiting for me at my table when I came in. When my family was moving out of the area at the end of the school year, Mrs Borkas took me to lunch at “The Most Magnificent McDonalds”! It’s a legit thing in Warren, Ohio! It was a super fancy lunch in the two-story McD’s with the moon man playing a baby grand piano, a chandelier and a glass elevator! I will forever remember how special she made me feel and I hope I bring that feeling to my own students.
What impact or legacy do you hope to leave to your students?
I hope my students develop a desire to be lifelong learners, love going to school, and know that if you fall, you get back up and try it again…and again…and again and that I will forever be one of their biggest cheerleaders!
What are some of the most important life skills you hope to instill in your students?
I hope to teach my students to be kind humans, lifelong learners, and comfortable and confident to be uniquely themselves.