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It's great to meet you!
On the first day of a new class, I often give students time to ask me questions so that they can get to know me a little better. Here are the answers to the questions I'm asked most often.
About Being a Teacher Why did you decide to become a teacher? What keeps you excited about your job? When I first enrolled in college to become a teacher, I did so because I love reading, writing, and learning and wanted to share those passions with the next generation. However, as I've grown in my profession, my reason for being -- and remaining -- excited about being a teacher has evolved. Primarily, I see my role as helping all students to develop their innate excellence, to pursue their own passions, and to develop their voices as writers as they grow toward adulthood. Alongside that, I recognize the significant role that teachers have in advocating for their students and their families in our schools, our society, and our world. I believe in actively working to dismantle policies and practices that perpetuate systemic racism and other forms of marginalization and discrimination in our education systems. I am anti-racist, welcoming of immigrants, and a proud ally of the LGBTQIA+ community. I am a proud supporter of public education. How long have you been a teacher? The 2020-21 school year will be my 16th year in the classroom. About My Education and Professional Life Where did you attend high school? What activities were you involved in? I attended Hemlock High School in Hemlock, Michigan, from 1996-2000. Go Huskies! I was very involved in sports as a high school student. In the fall and winter all four years, I participated in pom pon (a competitive and halftime show dance team). I served as co-captain my junior and senior years. During my sophomore year, I joined the cross country team, and continued to run cross country my junior and senior year. I also participated in track all four years; I went to the state finals for discus. I was also a member of the National Honor Society. Where did you attend college? What did you study? Starting in the fall of 2000, I attended Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan (go Lakers!). I graduated in April 2005 with a major in English and minor in Spanish. I earned my master's degree in K-12 Reading from Grand Valley State University in December 2015, and am a certified Reading Specialist in the State of Michigan. Are you studying anything now? I am currently studying for a second master's degree Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. Eventually, I would like to pursue a Ph.D. To learn more about my professional life, check out my LinkedIn page. About My Home and Family Are you married? Do you have any kids? My husband Dave and I married in July 2007. We don't have any kids, but we are "fur parents" to our two cats, Link and Artemis. We also have chickens. What does your husband do? Dave graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in computer science, and currently works as a database administrator for a company in the Grand Rapids area. About My Hobbies and Interests What else are you interested in?
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