I was born and raised in Southern California. After graduating from Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos, California, I went on to attend Chapman University in Orange, California for my undergraduate and teaching credential. After receiving my teaching credential, I was fortunate enough to work as a long term substitute for Los Alamitos Unified School District. Teaching fourth grade and first grade as a long term substitute was the perfect transition for me. It allowed me to step into an experienced teacher's classroom and learn classroom management, planning curriculum, and working collaboratively with a grade level team. Soon after, I was hired to teach my own kindergarten classroom. After three years of teaching kindergarten, I reached outside my comfort zone and pursued an opportunity to teach at a prestigious school district in Montgomery County, Maryland. Montgomery County Public Schools is the 17th largest system in the nation. The county's core values matched my aspiring goals in the field of education. Specifically, working for Chevy Chase Elementary has significantly fostered my professional growth. I have five years of third grade, multiple subjects experience and one year as a fifth grade teacher with a content focused on reading and language arts. A standard of excellence which is evident throughout the community and school environment fosters continuous professional development opportunities, practicing at the highest possible standard, and holding high expectations for myself, my colleagues, and my students. It is now six years later and with profound classroom experiences, leadership positions, and collaborative practices, I am still striving towards new opportunities for growth and improvement. Currently, I am in my third year as a sixth grade teacher at Montecito Union School in Santa Barbara, California. It is with great pleasure and deep gratitude that I am able to work with colleagues who are not only of the highest professional standard, but inspire me to work hard. In 2016, I completed my masters in Teaching and Learning and also received extensive training at Harvard's Project Zero's summer institute. There, I was able to meet with colleagues and professionals who study the cultures of thinking and identify research based approaches toward creating a culture of thinkers.
Professional Experience
Montecito Union School District
Montecito Union School
385 San Ysidro Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
August 2015-Present
Montecito Union School
385 San Ysidro Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
August 2015-Present
Sixth Grade Teacher
August 2015-Present
August 2015-Present
- As a school culture, we have worked intensively and extensively with the Habits of Mind as a set of attributes and dispositions toward problem solving.
- Create an environment for students that not only focuses on challenge, but employing habits and dispositions that allow students to use strategic reasoning, insight, perseverance and creativity when faced with such challenges.
- Work with a PLC of four other sixth grade teachers, planning for all subject areas, including Mathematics, Language Arts, Social Studies and Science
- Attended 2015 California Mathematics Council Conference
- Worked with a team to create a sustainable book room for the school
- 2016 Harvard University Project Zero Institute
- 2016-2017 Student Leadership Club Advisor
- 2016-present Literacy Committee
- 2016- present Facilities Design Committee
- Inclusion Committee/Teacher Liaison
- 2017-2018 Montecito Union Teacher's Association Membership Representative
Montgomery County Public Schools
Chevy Chase Elementary
4015 Rosemary Street
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
August 2009 to June 2015
Chevy Chase Elementary
4015 Rosemary Street
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
August 2009 to June 2015
Third Grade Teacher and Team Leader
August 2009-June 2014
Fifth Grade Reading Teacher and Team Leader
August 2014- Present
August 2009-June 2014
- Collaboratively work with grade level team members from throughout the county to create differentiated lessons based on the county's new curriculum
- Participate in a community Study Circle, creating a partnership among parents and staff members through diversity training
- Implement 21st Century Classroom strategies, including Promethean, Chromebook and Google Apps for Education
- Active member of the school's leadership team and stakeholder in the School Improvement Plan, staff training, and mentoring of high school internship program
- After-School Sponsor for the school's after school program for struggling students
- After School Sports Club Advisor
- School Play Sponsor
- Student Government Association Sponsor
- Presenter to PTA regarding the new curriculum changes
Fifth Grade Reading Teacher and Team Leader
August 2014- Present
- Collaboratively work as a grade level team in a departmentalized structure, preparing students for their middle years
- Nominee for the "Thank you for Teaching: Shirley Lowrie Award" January 2015
- Coordinate field trips for 100 plus students involving curriculum connected activities (Philadelphia, National Gallery of Art, and Washington D.C.'s Newseum)
- Lead collaborative planning meetings including administration, special education team, and specialists as contributors
- Organize and create clear expectations for fellow staff members, parent community, and students through self-created website, email communication, newsletters, and regular conferences
Fourth Grade and First Grade Long Term Substitute
October 2006-June 2007
Worked closely with team members to learn school and classroom expectations
Kindergarten Teacher
August 2007-June 2009
October 2006-June 2007
Worked closely with team members to learn school and classroom expectations
Kindergarten Teacher
August 2007-June 2009
Professional Development
Grade 5 Health Education Intro to Family Life and Human Sexuality, Disease Prevention, and HIV/AIDS Training
Re-imagining my Learning in a Connected Age (Google Classroom and Apps for Education)
ESOL for Elementary School Teams
Small Group Instruction in Reading Grades 3-5
Elementary Gradebook for Standards Based Teaching and Learning
Effective Instruction in the 21st Century Interactive Classroom (Beginner) for ALL GRADE LEVELS (Promethean)
Curriculum 2.0/Common Core State Standards - Grade 3 Mathematics (June 2012)
Curriculum 2.0/Common Core Standards Mathematics Grades K-2 (Dec. 2011)
Collaborative Cycle of Planning for Elementary Teams (Grades 2-5)
AEI--Introduction to William & Mary Teacher Training - Grades 2-5
Donalyn Miller "Book Whisperer" Workshop
Kylene Beers and Robert Probst Notice and Note Work Shop
Scholastic Reading Summit
Re-imagining my Learning in a Connected Age (Google Classroom and Apps for Education)
ESOL for Elementary School Teams
Small Group Instruction in Reading Grades 3-5
Elementary Gradebook for Standards Based Teaching and Learning
Effective Instruction in the 21st Century Interactive Classroom (Beginner) for ALL GRADE LEVELS (Promethean)
Curriculum 2.0/Common Core State Standards - Grade 3 Mathematics (June 2012)
Curriculum 2.0/Common Core Standards Mathematics Grades K-2 (Dec. 2011)
Collaborative Cycle of Planning for Elementary Teams (Grades 2-5)
AEI--Introduction to William & Mary Teacher Training - Grades 2-5
Donalyn Miller "Book Whisperer" Workshop
Kylene Beers and Robert Probst Notice and Note Work Shop
Scholastic Reading Summit