About

I have been a classroom teacher since 1992. During this time, the focus of my teaching has been in the intermediate grade levels. As I worked in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades, I used technology with my students as I was best able. This was usually on a limited basis, due mainly to the lack of resources. In the fall of 2002 Palma Sola Elementary was approached to pilot the one to one laptop program in my 4th grade classroom. Palma Sola applied for the opportunity and I was chosen as one of 5 pilot teachers in Manatee County. I continued to work with technology with my 2nd grade students here at Willis, and then in the Science Lab. It is amazing to me how computers affect a classroom, learning, and our daily lives! I am so excited to be a part of this learning opportunity.

As I have grown as a professional, I have realized that I have two passions, curriculum and reading. Both of these areas are incorporated into the technology that encompasses what I do in my classroom. My feelings are that without a strong understanding of both of these areas to support the technology, it will not impact students in all realms of learning. Many times before building a unit or assigning a web quest, I will evaluate it not only on the subject contained in the exploration, but also the skills covered in reading.

The 2007-2008 school year was a very exciting time in my career. First, I received certification as a National Board teacher. This certification is received after much hard work by the teacher to prove their abilities to met National Standards in teaching. Also, I was chosen as one of 50 teachers by the School District to receive a ScienceMasters Program degree.  A truly exciting event was when Willis Elementary was named an Apple Distinguished School. It was a pleasure to work on this project for our school! And to top off a great year, I was chosen to participate in the ePortfolio project for the 2008-2009 school year!  In the fall of 2009, I was selected to work in the Science Lab, where I also spent the 2010/2011 school year. I returned to the classroom for 2011/2012.  It was then that I was able to teach a 1st and 2nd grade gifted classroom.  I’m excited to be working with 4th grade now!

I am also very busy at home with a husband, Mike, and two boys, Michael and Thomas. We enjoy playing together, going outside to fly kites and ride bikes, NASCAR, and visiting friends, family, and historical sites in Florida while we are camping. We love Alafia River State Park. You can find us there frequently camping and riding our bikes!