I am so excited to get to know your 6th graders!  This is my 11th year of teaching.  I graduated from Oklahoma State University (Go Pokes!) in 2004 with a degree in Journalism & Broadcasting.  I worked as a newspaper editor and then for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services in child welfare and at a juvenile detention facility as a teacher before becoming alternatively certified to teach in 2008.  I have also taught English to inmates.  I worked in a small school teaching 7th through 12th grade and yearbook, then a metro school district teaching 7th/8th Language Arts, and Title I Reading.  

 

I have one son, who is in 7th grade, and four dogs who are spoiled rotten.  In my spare time, I love watching sports, reading, and being outside.   I love all things OSU and Thunder, chocolate, and the color purple.  

 

I was born with permanent genetic nerve damage to my hearing, so I am hard of hearing.  I can adapt to most situations, but at times it takes a little more patience from students.  I have been very open about my disability with students, and am always happy to answer questions. In January and May of 2019, I had surgery to get cochlear implants.  They're still very new and overwhelming but I'm noticing a difference already.  I'm doing lots of rehab and listening practice and I'm confident this will make me a better educator.  My test scores have already improved drastically.  I am so excited I get to teach ELA Enrichment this year and I have chosen to teach American Sign Language.  I have been slowly learning for several years and am eager to give kids a basic knowledge of a new language.

 

I look forward to a great school year! Please contact me anytime with anything you need at all!

I have an extensive classroom libarary as well as the ability to check out books digitally from 3 different library systems (I have 4 kindles available for use in my classroom).  I do not believe it is my job to censor what your child reads.  I do keep some of the more mature YA and adult literature in a safe space and require written permission slips for students to check these books out.  However, the majority of my library is available for any student.  If your student brings home a book you are not comfortable with him or her reading, just have them return it and choose a new one.  No harm done!  Every student reads differently and I believe in exposing children to many different types of literature.