About Me | fifth

All Aboard!

Join the adventure, world travelers! I'll be your pilot this year, so let me tell you a little bit about myself.

This will be my 5th year teaching 2nd grade at Harvey. I have taught at Braden River Elementary, Kinnan Elementary, and a school called Rock Springs Elementary near Orlando. But I love being a Harvey Shark most of all!

I have been happily married to my husband, Todd, for more than 11 years. You might know our daughter, Finley, because she is a fellow Shark and she loves it here just as much as I do. She will be a third grader this year. We also have a wonderful dog named Macie, a cranky cat named Aggie, and a wild cat who adopted us, named Cheesepuff.

I have lived in Florida for about 28 years! I moved to Bradenton from Niagara Falls, New York when I was in 8th grade. I went to college at UCF, in Orlando, then found my way back to Bradenton. I'm so glad that I did because now I'm here with you!

My Favorites

Food: pizza & any dessert

Drink: iced coffee or Pepsi...

anything with caffeine!

Color: blue

Movie: Mary Poppins

Band: The Beatles

Children's Book: Pete and Pickles, Where the Wild Things Are

Teacher: Mrs. Divita, my 4th grade teacher

Store: Target, Amazon

Activity: READING!

Animal: koala

Sport: baseball & hockey

Teaching Philosophy

Education is a process that involves many elements working together for a common goal. I believe that every single student has the potential for greatness. Each child is unique, and each classroom is full of many different learning styles. It is the job of the teacher to tap into that, and help them reach their full potential. I believe in a positive learning environment, that is fun, engaging, interactive, but is also fair and consistent. I believe in classroom management based on mutual respect. To me, these elements must include Readers' and Writers' Workshop, cooperative learning, and hands-on activities in the classroom. Outside of the classroom, this requires a teacher to continue their pursuit of knowledge, which is why you'll find me reading a variety of professional books, and implementing these newly acquired concepts or skills in the classroom.