Family: Husband, Marcus; 7-month-old son,  Max 

School: Denair Middle School

Subject taught: Moderate/ severe special education 

Experience and education: AA in human and behavioral science, BA in sociology and education and  specialist teaching credential in mild-moderate with an authorization in moderate-severe. This will be my fourth year teaching; I did three years as a K-5 SDC teacher. 

What attracted you to Denair? I attended Denair School K-12. I love the small-town feeling and how much the teachers and staff really cared about their students and all the community involvement. 

What most inspires you about teaching? Making a difference with a child in the slightest way. I have worked with many different students and families, and I love to see it all come together when a child makes progress not only at school but at home as well.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? Being in a new school district and at a different grade level and learning the new ropes of everything. 

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? Any hands-on interactive activity!

What do you want your students to remember? I want my students to remember that kindness, hard work and creativity can take them far in life. It’s important to treat others with respect, put effort into everything you do and think outside the box to solve problems. These qualities can truly make a difference!

How can parents support what you do? Being open for communication and ready to support their students by helping me learn about what drives their child to succeed.

What would surprise people about your job? Working in special education is such a rewarding experience, but it takes a lot of time and analysis to do what is right for each student. 

What do you do for fun? I love spending time with my family and going camping.