All About Me...
Me and My Husband
Background Info & Education
I was born and raised in Chicago, IL, in the city not the suburbs. I am the youngest of three children, with an older brother, and slightly older sister. I spent more of my time in school than anywhere else growing up. My mother unfortunately died when I was only 5 years old, and my father worked hard to support our family. As a result, I often got to school early, and stayed long after with teachers. While in grammar school, I found myself at home while at school, and my teachers quickly became my family. I worked hard on my schoolwork but I also participated in every sport I could. I played volleyball, basketball, a little bit of softball, and last but not least, tennis in high school. While attending Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School, I volunteered to tutor students in the Chicago Public Schools, and also volunteered to coach a variety of sports, it was here that I discovered my love of kids. Upon graduating high school, I left Chicago to attend college at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. I started off college looking to become an architect, and after daveling in a few other majors, I made up my mind to become a teacher. Of everything out there, why did I decide to become a teacher? Despite my love of math and physics, I always felt at home helping others in a more hands on way. And after all, my best memories were of my own teachers growing up, and I decided that I wanted to be as inspirational, helpful, and compassionate as they were to me. After committing my mind and heart to education, I student taught at Kenwood Elementary in Champaign, IL, and Leal Elementary in Urbana, IL, and shortly thereafter, I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in December 2007. I came to like the Champaign area so much, that I stayed.
Marriage & Life
Life after college was new and exciting. On August 18, 2008, I married my at the time, longtime boyfriend and fiance, Nathan, and just days later I began teaching at Franklin Middle School in the Fall of 2008. While surrounded by the staff and students at Franklin, I found a whole new family. With this new found Franklin family helping me out, I began teaching Science Technology on the Encore team for Franklin Middle School. The excitement and scariness did not end with the beginning of the school year . In March 2009, my father, suffered a severe stroke, which has helped me reconnect with my own family, and inspired me even further as a teacher. Because of his stroke, my father seriously struggles with his speech and language on a daily basis. Shortly after my father got out of the hospital, I started making numerous weekend trips to help him in his initial recovery. I have witnessed his struggle to be able to write and speak, and have tried to help him relearn even the easiest of words and do his homework assignments from the most amazing speech therapist alive . It is by his side that I found a new patience and compassion within myself, as the tables turned, and my father was learning from me. Unfortunately, June 2012, my childhood dog, lifelong partner in crime, and best friend, Zoe (picture below), passed away after over 14 years of companionship, patience, and love that she brought to my family. It has been a struggle, but we are remembering all of the good times, especially when she would jump on my dad's lap at the dinner table to get her own plate of food.
My Time as a Teacher in Unit 4
My all-time favorite classes as a student myself include calculus and geometry! My sophomore year in high school I had the most phenomenal teacher in honors geometry who inspired me to love math and apparently teaching as well! I started teaching at Franklin Middle School in August of 2008, where I taught Science Technology for two years, followed by 7 years of teaching Algebra, Pre-Algebra and AVID on the 8 North Team. I was also Franklin's AVID Site Coordinator for several year, and I am thrilled to say that in November 2013 Franklin was re-validated as an AVID Demonstration Site. We were the only middle school in all of Illinois, and one of approximately 100 schools across the US that have this esteemed honor of AVID Demo! In the 2015-2016 School year, Jefferson Middle School joined us when they earned their Demo Status from AVID! I look forward to working with the AVID Site Team at Edison as they work towards Demo Status as well!
Several years ago, I was blessed to be able to participate in PEMM - Partnership for Enhanced Mathematics Modeling, a grant received by our mathematics coordinator Leslie Knicl. We partnered with the University of Illinois' MSTE, and business partners PowerWorld and Orpheum Science Museum in order to allow the participants the ability to:
1. Develop an enhanced skill and knowledge level of the Common Core State Standards and Mathematical Practices and how this document will effect instructional and assessment practices
2. Employ a variety of instructional practices informed by their work with mathematicians, scientists, engineers, and experts and researchers on the teaching of secondary mathematics
3. Be core leaders in the implementation of the CCSS in mathematics in participant’s school, the district as well as the state.
I have also been lucky enough to be trained by College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM) Educational Program as a teacher leader. As a result, I have been able to lead mathematics trainings and help support our district, and surrounding districts' teachers in developing and implementing the CPM Curriculum. Furthermore, I had the honor of presenting at Chancellor's Academy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in the summer of 2014 on establishing and supporting collaborative group work to elementary through secondary teachers of all content areas. I was also accepted as a speaker at the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) at their National Conference in Boston during the Spring of 2015.
During the summer of 2014 I began work on a master's degree in Education Policy Organization and Leadership, also known as, Administration, through the University of Illinois (UIUC) and finished my coursework in August 2016, and am now certified to be a principal. At the same time I also went through the now three year process to work toward obtaining National Board Certification as a math teacher. In the 2016-2017 school year I left the classroom and started a new chapter in my educational career. At that time, I joined the Secondary Teaching and Learning Team as a Coordinator of 6th through 12th grades. It has been great supporting and working with teachers, administrators, families, but I have desperately missed working with students and families more closely. As a result, I took advantage of a math opening and returned to the classroom in January of 2018 at Edison Middle School, where I was able to coach volleyball in the 2016-2017 school year. I was not able to continue in my role as volleyball coach because I started my training in February 2018 for a full Ironman triathlon.
Hobbies
If I'm not at work, chances are I am training for a triathlon, or participating in sand or indoor volleyball, running, swimming, working out, or my all-time favorite BIKING! I could bike for hours and hours on end, and you may see me riding around the Champaign-Urbana area when I am riding to or from school, or participating in triathlons with some of my very athletic co-workers and friends. Nevertheless, I am always keeping busy with school, friends, and family around Champaign, in school, or at the YMCA... and reading a TON of educational books, articles, etc. Check out my recommendations.
Update 2018-2019 School Year
In December 2017 I found out that I achieved the status of being a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT for short), along with several of my colleagues and friends that went through the process with me! I am so proud of myself and my friends, it was quite the process of writing about my passion - my students, teaching, professional learning, and mathematics - but I learned a lot about myself and it was so worth it! I am returning to Edison for the 2018-2019 school year and am excited for another year, new students, and new experiences. I am happy to report my 8 months of training paid off, and I successfully completed the Louisville Ironman (140.6 miles), October 14, 2018 where I swam 2.4 miles in the Ohio River, did 112 miles of biking up down and all around the hills of Kentucky, and ran/walked 26.2 miles in approximately 14 hours and 45 minutes.
Update 2019-2020 School Year
I am continuing my work as a Math and AVID teacher at Edison in the 2019-2020 school year and look forward to working with and getting to know the students, families, and Edison staff! I am still on the 7th grade Galaxies Team and am taking on a new role as our building's Math Content Area Chair, or Department Head. I look forward to supporting teachers across content areas in Math, AVID, Social-Emotional Learning, and more research-based strategies that support students.
Contact Me
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, suggestions, or you or your student need help with math, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will do what I can via email, phone, or in person!
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. I look forward to getting to know you as well!
I was born and raised in Chicago, IL, in the city not the suburbs. I am the youngest of three children, with an older brother, and slightly older sister. I spent more of my time in school than anywhere else growing up. My mother unfortunately died when I was only 5 years old, and my father worked hard to support our family. As a result, I often got to school early, and stayed long after with teachers. While in grammar school, I found myself at home while at school, and my teachers quickly became my family. I worked hard on my schoolwork but I also participated in every sport I could. I played volleyball, basketball, a little bit of softball, and last but not least, tennis in high school. While attending Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School, I volunteered to tutor students in the Chicago Public Schools, and also volunteered to coach a variety of sports, it was here that I discovered my love of kids. Upon graduating high school, I left Chicago to attend college at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. I started off college looking to become an architect, and after daveling in a few other majors, I made up my mind to become a teacher. Of everything out there, why did I decide to become a teacher? Despite my love of math and physics, I always felt at home helping others in a more hands on way. And after all, my best memories were of my own teachers growing up, and I decided that I wanted to be as inspirational, helpful, and compassionate as they were to me. After committing my mind and heart to education, I student taught at Kenwood Elementary in Champaign, IL, and Leal Elementary in Urbana, IL, and shortly thereafter, I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in December 2007. I came to like the Champaign area so much, that I stayed.
Marriage & Life
Life after college was new and exciting. On August 18, 2008, I married my at the time, longtime boyfriend and fiance, Nathan, and just days later I began teaching at Franklin Middle School in the Fall of 2008. While surrounded by the staff and students at Franklin, I found a whole new family. With this new found Franklin family helping me out, I began teaching Science Technology on the Encore team for Franklin Middle School. The excitement and scariness did not end with the beginning of the school year . In March 2009, my father, suffered a severe stroke, which has helped me reconnect with my own family, and inspired me even further as a teacher. Because of his stroke, my father seriously struggles with his speech and language on a daily basis. Shortly after my father got out of the hospital, I started making numerous weekend trips to help him in his initial recovery. I have witnessed his struggle to be able to write and speak, and have tried to help him relearn even the easiest of words and do his homework assignments from the most amazing speech therapist alive . It is by his side that I found a new patience and compassion within myself, as the tables turned, and my father was learning from me. Unfortunately, June 2012, my childhood dog, lifelong partner in crime, and best friend, Zoe (picture below), passed away after over 14 years of companionship, patience, and love that she brought to my family. It has been a struggle, but we are remembering all of the good times, especially when she would jump on my dad's lap at the dinner table to get her own plate of food.
My Time as a Teacher in Unit 4
My all-time favorite classes as a student myself include calculus and geometry! My sophomore year in high school I had the most phenomenal teacher in honors geometry who inspired me to love math and apparently teaching as well! I started teaching at Franklin Middle School in August of 2008, where I taught Science Technology for two years, followed by 7 years of teaching Algebra, Pre-Algebra and AVID on the 8 North Team. I was also Franklin's AVID Site Coordinator for several year, and I am thrilled to say that in November 2013 Franklin was re-validated as an AVID Demonstration Site. We were the only middle school in all of Illinois, and one of approximately 100 schools across the US that have this esteemed honor of AVID Demo! In the 2015-2016 School year, Jefferson Middle School joined us when they earned their Demo Status from AVID! I look forward to working with the AVID Site Team at Edison as they work towards Demo Status as well!
Several years ago, I was blessed to be able to participate in PEMM - Partnership for Enhanced Mathematics Modeling, a grant received by our mathematics coordinator Leslie Knicl. We partnered with the University of Illinois' MSTE, and business partners PowerWorld and Orpheum Science Museum in order to allow the participants the ability to:
1. Develop an enhanced skill and knowledge level of the Common Core State Standards and Mathematical Practices and how this document will effect instructional and assessment practices
2. Employ a variety of instructional practices informed by their work with mathematicians, scientists, engineers, and experts and researchers on the teaching of secondary mathematics
3. Be core leaders in the implementation of the CCSS in mathematics in participant’s school, the district as well as the state.
I have also been lucky enough to be trained by College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM) Educational Program as a teacher leader. As a result, I have been able to lead mathematics trainings and help support our district, and surrounding districts' teachers in developing and implementing the CPM Curriculum. Furthermore, I had the honor of presenting at Chancellor's Academy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in the summer of 2014 on establishing and supporting collaborative group work to elementary through secondary teachers of all content areas. I was also accepted as a speaker at the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) at their National Conference in Boston during the Spring of 2015.
During the summer of 2014 I began work on a master's degree in Education Policy Organization and Leadership, also known as, Administration, through the University of Illinois (UIUC) and finished my coursework in August 2016, and am now certified to be a principal. At the same time I also went through the now three year process to work toward obtaining National Board Certification as a math teacher. In the 2016-2017 school year I left the classroom and started a new chapter in my educational career. At that time, I joined the Secondary Teaching and Learning Team as a Coordinator of 6th through 12th grades. It has been great supporting and working with teachers, administrators, families, but I have desperately missed working with students and families more closely. As a result, I took advantage of a math opening and returned to the classroom in January of 2018 at Edison Middle School, where I was able to coach volleyball in the 2016-2017 school year. I was not able to continue in my role as volleyball coach because I started my training in February 2018 for a full Ironman triathlon.
Hobbies
If I'm not at work, chances are I am training for a triathlon, or participating in sand or indoor volleyball, running, swimming, working out, or my all-time favorite BIKING! I could bike for hours and hours on end, and you may see me riding around the Champaign-Urbana area when I am riding to or from school, or participating in triathlons with some of my very athletic co-workers and friends. Nevertheless, I am always keeping busy with school, friends, and family around Champaign, in school, or at the YMCA... and reading a TON of educational books, articles, etc. Check out my recommendations.
Update 2018-2019 School Year
In December 2017 I found out that I achieved the status of being a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT for short), along with several of my colleagues and friends that went through the process with me! I am so proud of myself and my friends, it was quite the process of writing about my passion - my students, teaching, professional learning, and mathematics - but I learned a lot about myself and it was so worth it! I am returning to Edison for the 2018-2019 school year and am excited for another year, new students, and new experiences. I am happy to report my 8 months of training paid off, and I successfully completed the Louisville Ironman (140.6 miles), October 14, 2018 where I swam 2.4 miles in the Ohio River, did 112 miles of biking up down and all around the hills of Kentucky, and ran/walked 26.2 miles in approximately 14 hours and 45 minutes.
Update 2019-2020 School Year
I am continuing my work as a Math and AVID teacher at Edison in the 2019-2020 school year and look forward to working with and getting to know the students, families, and Edison staff! I am still on the 7th grade Galaxies Team and am taking on a new role as our building's Math Content Area Chair, or Department Head. I look forward to supporting teachers across content areas in Math, AVID, Social-Emotional Learning, and more research-based strategies that support students.
Contact Me
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, suggestions, or you or your student need help with math, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will do what I can via email, phone, or in person!
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. I look forward to getting to know you as well!
Interesting Facts About Me...
* My 8th Grade graduating class had only 13 people in it.
* I have trained for and completed TWO marathons. * I went to an all girls high school. * I completed a Half Ironman in July of 2017 with my sister in Ohio! #swimbikerun * Andy Roddick & Venus Williams are my favorite tennis players. * My favorite color is blue... no... purple....no...blue... I can't decide. * My husband and I own two homes (and rent one). * I have been my current height since I was in 8th grade. * I love going on road trips. * My very first vacation was to Florida and Disney, when I was 18 with my college friends from the dorm. * I first got my license when I was 23 years old. * All four of our household vehicles are manual, we don't like automatic. (Why do we have 4 cars when there are only 2 of us?) Update: We sold one car, got a new one, and now one of our cars is automatic! * I have been cooking and baking since I was 6 years old. * I love Pepsi and Popeye's Chicken. * I am not musically inclined at all (I cannot sing, dance, play a musical instrument, or anything of the sort) but I work on it in private. |
* I met my husband Nathan when I was in 7th grade.
* We have two cats in my house. * I got my first cat, Bagel, when I got my first teaching job (at Franklin), his entire litter of kittens was named after breakfast foods. Since his passing we have a new cat named Oliver, after the Green Arrow! * My husband's cat, Gado, is named after a video game character, not the Spanish word for cat which is spelled gato. * My all-time favorite movie is 101 Dalmatians. * My favorite childhood books are The Chronicles of Narnia. * My favorite author (as of HS) is Barbara Kingsolver, and my favorite books of this author are The Bean Trees, and Pigs in Heaven. * My favorite class that I have ever taken is a tie between physics and calculus. * My favorite food, not just for dessert, is French Silk Pie, only from Bakers Square. * I have four tattoos, including two tattoos to remember my mom (a celtic angel because she is my angel, and a yellow rose, because roses were her favorite). * I ran my first marathon in April 2013. * I am a Chicago Bears fan! * I live in Champaign, IL. * I completed a FULL Ironman in October of 2018. #LouisvilleIronman #140.6 * I hiked Camelback Mountain in Arizona and went up and down the equivalent of 51 floors! :) |