I feel so lucky to be a part of Rose Union!  It is a wonderful place for children (not to mention their families and teachers)!  As a little girl, I loved school and enjoyed playing “school” with my siblings and friends.  When it came time to pick a major in college, I knew I wanted to work with children.  Being an elementary school teacher seemed perfect!  I got my degree at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC and began my teaching career in Winston.  I taught first grade at an arts-based charter school.  It was quite an experience, one that I bring with me into my classroom every day.  I’ve spent the past three years teaching 2^nd grade in Edmond.  I am excited to be back in first grade.  It was my favorite grade as a child, and I want to recreate that for my students.  We spend lots of time building our classroom community, which is an ongoing process.  From there, the children can feel safe to take risks and make mistakes.  They support each other in and out of the classroom.  We have four basic principles that we follow in our classroom: Respect, Responsibility, Work Hard, and Have Fun!  We also work on “getting new wrinkles on our brains,” stretching our creativity, and improving our academic skills.  First and foremost, my students need to love being here, and if they do, I’ve won half the “battle!” 

My husband Dustin also graduated from Wake, but unlike me, he grew up here.  (He somehow convinced me, a Jersey girl, to move to Oklahoma!)  We have a son, Owen, who was born in January 2007.  We just moved into our new house in Edmond last year. 

At night, I am getting my masters in Early Childhood Education at UCO.  It has truly been a learning experience for me, one that has made me a much better teacher.  I apply what I learn every day to ensure that I am doing what’s best for my students.  Watching a child “get it” (and knowing you helped) is truly one of the greatest gifts of being a teacher!