I came to teaching through a non-traditional route, but with abundant life experience as a mother of 6 children and a passion for teaching that was discovered through my years spent as a liaison for foster/adoptive parents and volunteer work in schools and church. As a result of my years in education, I have been able to refine my natural skills and develop the necessary pedagogy and tool bag to teach an extensive variety of students including ELL and IEP students in a variety of school settings. My passion for teaching not just the "what", but the "why" drives me as an educator as I seek to nurture the joy of learning in all of my students and contribute to the critical thinking skills of our future generations. I sincerely believe in the potential of all students to learn, and I enjoy both the laying of the foundational skills in K-2 as well as the remediation of foundational skills in the upper elementary levels.