Creating Lifelong Learners and Community Members

I am an AACPS: Teacher, Mayo Elementary| Alum, South River High School, Class of 2002 | 2019 Teacher of the Year Honoree

Teaching is more than a job, it is my passion. It allows me to be a lifelong learner, build positive relationships with my students, and instill confidence in them. Teaching also provides me a tremendous responsibility to better this world one student at a time.

Every year, I have an amazing opportunity to build long-term positive relationships with my students. I take time to learn their strengths and weaknesses which helps me differentiate my instruction to meet their needs. My lessons are clear, structured, and organized, ensuring all students are challenged. Together, we set clear expectations for behavioral and academic performance. I believe that providing my students with an engaging, rigorous, and hands-on lesson, inspires their learning. These lessons allow them to retain the concepts taught and make real-world connections. I also use multi-sensory methods and technology to keep my students engaged. In addition, I use movement, yoga, flexible seating, power-teaching method to partner share, and group work. Overall, my passion for teaching is shown in an accepting and welcoming learning environment for all students.

As a primary educator and a mother, it is my responsibility to instill confidence in all of my students, both in and out of school. I work to build students’ character by encouraging them to be problem- solvers. I teach them that mistakes are not only accepted, but also an integral part of our learning experience. In my class, students promote kindness and understanding. They learn that we are a school family and need to support each other. My students learn to believe in themselves and take pride in their work. My hope is that these important traits become ingrained in their character, creating lifelong learners and community members.

Every day I wake up with a passion for educating students. My hope is that this enthusiasm for learning is instilled within my students, giving them the desire to achieve academically, and therefore become passionate about learning themselves.