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I have been teaching for 9 years, and each passing year only gets better!  I started out my career teaching as a librarian at a school on the westside of Chicago.  I eventually moved to my own classroom and spent four years teaching 2nd grade and one year teaching 3rd/4th Gifted and Talented.

This is my fourth year teaching 1st grade at Ray.  I enjoy this school because of the diversity, the support I have received from the community as well as my colleagues, and the warm atmosphere that one feels immediately when they walk through the doors.  I made the switch to first grade because I wanted to focus my instruction on helping kids to learn to read. I am a strong believer in developmental practices, and first grade is truly a year of growth for many children.  They develop those academic skills, particularly in reading, that perhaps in kindergarten they were not emotionally, socially, or academically ready for.

I recently attended Chicago State University where I received a masters degree in Reading.  I also have been involved with the Chicago Math and Science Initiative and work with University of Chicago to help train teachers to use the Everyday Math program.