About Me

In 2022, I became part of the MAUSD team as the district Multilingual Learner (ML/ELL) Specialist for PK-12 th grade. At the time, I had just relocated here from Chicago to be close to family and embrace rural mountain living. I am currently at all 5 schools in the district and my caseload involves the wonderful opportunity of working with various ages, various English proficiency levels, and students that come here from different countries. I am here to support students and families where English might not be the first or only language spoken in the home.

I have had many enriching experiences in education over the years that have brought me to this position. I taught English in Japan for 14 years to children, youth, and adults, and in recent years have taught as an ELL lecturer and adjunct instructor at community colleges in the Chicago area. I hold a M.A. degree from Wheaton College with a T.E.S.O.L. (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate.

When I am not at school, you can find me discovering the many beautiful areas of Vermont, baking in the kitchen, taking photography lessons, hanging outside with my dog and chickens, or planning my next cultural experience.

One of my passions is finding ways to help our ML students find their voice, so they can share with their teachers and peers the special roles their language, culture, and traditions play in their lives, as they become a part of this place we all call home and community. My role here at MAUSD is not to be an interpreter or translator, but rather a coach who seeks to offer students strategies and tools they can use to be the best learner they can be, at whatever level of English language proficiency they are at in their educational journey.

I am grateful to be working with such a wonderful team of educators who are always learning, always growing, as together we collaborate to meet the needs of each and every student.