All About Me!

 A little about me....I received my undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota (go Gophers!) and my teaching credential at Chapman University.  My career in education began in 1994 in Palm Springs Unified School District where I worked with middle school special education students. In 1996, I moved to Orange County and started teaching at Moiola K-8 School in the Fountain Valley School District.  I taught 2nd and 3rd grade at Moiola until I transferred to Gisler Elementary School in 2011 when Moiola was closed. At Gisler, I continued teaching 3rd grade before moving up to 5th grade.

     Currently, I am starting my 11th year of teaching 5th grade!  I love the challenges and growth that came with teaching this grade level, our dynamic conversations, and am excited to continue to work with this grade level again this year!  

     I love teaching all subjects, but I consider myself an avid reader, so I'd say that I really love teaching reading!  How very lucky I am that I get to go to my job each day and share something with my students that is one of my favorite things in life to do....read!!  The students love it when I use different voices for characters when I read out loud - it helps the stories come alive and adds a lot of humor to our day!  When you love reading, you truly can explore the world and let your imagination run free!

     The same thing as art - I love teaching art and I incorporate it into the different content areas.  The best feeling is when a student who doesn't feel like they're artistic, creates something and proudly feels like an artist!  I also enjoy social studies and science - I feel like I learn something new almost every day and I learn a lot from the students!

      I have served in many other roles over my past years in education including soccer coach, cheerleading advisor, Peer Mediation advisor, Cotsen Fellow, FVEA Representative, BTSA Support Provider, Technology Chair, Student Study Team Coordinator, GATE Representative, and PTA Activities Chair.  My free time is spent visiting my daughter, Olivia, who is now residing in Minnesota, after completing her undergrad at U of AZ and grad school at my alma mater, U of MN!  I enjoy movies, traveling, playing golf, pickleball, yoga, cooking, projects, and of course reading!