All+About+Me

For the past 10+ years, I have had the joy of working with young children in several different areas including: preschool teaching, nannying, leading reading groups, tutoring at-risk youth through Americorps Project Scholars, and even entertaining at birthday parties as Cinderella or Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Currently, I am working as a preschool teacher at the same preschool that I went to as a child which is an awesome experience. There is a mural of Noah’s Ark on the wall that I remember being so large and exciting when I was four.

In my free time I mostly enjoy spending time with friends and family. I also love to paint, read, listen to music, and ponder while sipping a delicious, hot cup of coffee. At this time, I am on a quest to read/listen to the bible and spend time in prayer and thankfulness. Recently, I have been blessed with two children who I am able to sponsor abroad...a three year old girl from Columbia and a nine year old boy from India. They are so adorable and I hope to meet them in person someday.

Caring for and genuinely connecting with young children is one of my gifts as well as my passion. The sense of wonder, excitement and love that children give is so enjoyable to be around. The time spent with them makes me feel very thankful to be alive. I too hope to never lose my childlike wonder, joy and playfulness.

I believe children deserve our utmost love and respect. We would be wise to listen to what they have to say and support them in their curiosity and creative endeavors. I understand how much it means to a child when we give them our full attention and loving kindness. There has never been a child who I have not had a heart for, each one is so unique and so worthy of our time and energy.

Within our communities, I think it is wonderful to connect children with the people and places that surround them. When possible, I enjoy taking children on field-trips and invite interesting people (firefighters, artists, writers, etc.) to the classroom/center to inform and inspire the children. Inviting artists is a component to the Reggio Emilia approach to curriculum, a philosophy within early childhood education in which I am passionate about. Such an approach encourages a beautiful, engaging indoor and outdoor environment as well as readily available, open-ended, creative art activities on a daily basis. I would love to someday offer children such a rich way to learn, play, grow and explore.

