What do you teach and why did you become a teacher?

I teach English, and I coordinate the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. I always wanted to be a teacher. I love everything about school: teaching, learning, books, and school supplies. I love coming to school every day and learning with my students and peers. Teaching is one of the most important investments we can make in creating a better, more peaceful world.   

How do you show your school spirit? 

I actually graduated from Monroe High School just like my parents. My red letter M is proudly displayed in my classroom, but I have been teaching at Marvin Ridge High School since it opened in 2007, so I am deeply invested in the community we have worked to create here and glad to have any opportunity to show off my blue and orange. For me, showing school spirit means intentionally investing in making Marvin Ridge High School a wonderful place to work and learn by advocating for all students, staff, and our community.    

What or who inspires you?

My students inspire me. The young people I have the pleasure of teaching give me hope for the future and bring me genuine joy every single day. 

In which other teacher’s class would you like to enroll for a day? Why? 

I am blessed as the International Baccalaureate coordinator to have the opportunity to visit classes from many different disciplines. I especially love joining our IB Theory of Knowledge classes as often as possible, but if I could enroll in any class for a day, I would want to try something I never have before like Ms. Voigt’s Interior Design class. She also teaches counseling and mental health. Her nature and classroom are warm, calming, and inviting.    

What is one of your hidden talents?

Before teaching English, I taught Martial Arts. I had the most incredible Taekwondo instructor, Gary Murdock, who taught me so much about how to plan and deliver effective lessons. He required me to write lesson plans that took into account pacing, ability, development, and engagement, long before I completed my degree in education.  

If you could pass on any wisdom to your students, what would you share?

One of the best parts of the IB English course I teach is that it lasts for two years, so I get plenty of opportunities to try to impart some wisdom on my students. I want them to understand that everyone is a storyteller.  Through our words and actions, or silence and inaction, we are writing the story of who we are, where we have been, and where we want to go.  I ask my students to reflect on this so that they learn to speak and act with intention and empathy.  

What is a professional motto or quote that you “work” by?

Seek first to understand, not to judge.  

What do you enjoy most about working in UCPS?

I love working in the same district I grew up in, the same district where many of my family members have taught in the last century. I especially like the freedom to meet my students where they are and create unique lessons that best meet their needs and interests.  

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

I want to use my patience and calm to help put other people at ease. 

List five adjectives that describe your personality.

• Compassionate
• Positive
• Helpful
• Curious
• Passionate