About Me
Hello! Thank you for “stopping by” & reading a little bit about me! I have been a classroom teacher in grades three through six since 1997. I’ve spent a few years as a middle & high school basketball coach too (I played at the “birthplace of basketball” in college). During my 24 years of teaching, which have spanned the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, & Colorado, I have also had the privilege of teaching on a Native American reservation for two years and overseas in Adana, Turkey for a few months.
I am skilled at creating safe, supportive spaces where individuals experience comfortable agency to actively engage in their learning lives. My undergraduate degree was in math, science, & technology for elementary education and my Masters of Education degree had a focus in social studies, both earned from Springfield College in Massachusetts. I have additional coursework in literacy, science, & social studies beyond my M.Ed. I have attended the BEST Institute as part of a school leadership team to implement Positive Behavioral Support strategies and served as the PBIS co-coordinator at two schools. I am a Green Mountain Writing Project (formerly known as the National Writing Project) consulting teacher and have facilitated study groups for school districts on best practices in teaching writing. I have been part of the UVM Bridging Project in two school districts and was Vice-President of the Vermont Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts. I participated in Tier II Vermont Science Initiative and I have also completed six years of an educational retreat series cohort entitled “Courage and Renewal” based on Parker Palmer’s books, specifically the text, The Courage to Teach. I am adept at incorporating the Backwards Design model in developing curriculum for proficiency based learning. I have served as a member of a school’s DEI team as well.
Of particular note, I have had extensive training in the Responsive Classroom approach. I am Level III trained and had the privilege of having Ruth Charney as my mentor before she retired! Teaching human beings to care about themselves, their learning, and others is very important to me! I firmly ascribe to the six Guiding Principles of Responsive Classroom philosophy. I am currently trained in the “Real Dialogue” method as a Real Dialogue Specialist to “transform polarization and power struggles into trust and open communication through lowering emotional threat levels and increasing respect” using mindfulness skills with Polly Young-Eisendrath. I hold 200 and 300 hour yoga teacher training certification and teach classes in two local communities. I am training to be a Courage & Renewal facilitator. I possess deep knowledge, curiosity, & interest in human emotions and consciousness.
I live in Hinesburg with my young son, Oak, & enjoy singing, traveling, cooking, & dancing.
