Grade/school: Sixth grade Language Arts, Westfield Intermediate School
Number of years teaching: Four
Background/Schooling (college & high school): Appleton North High School, Appleton, Wisc.; bachelor’s in middle childhood early adolescence education, Butler University.
Why did you become a teacher? I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. My inspiration came from three places in my life: my mother, who is still an amazing eighth-grade U.S. history teacher in Wisconsin, growing up attending and working at Camp Manito-wish, and taking an intro to teaching class in high school that worked with a special needs population.
What goals do you have for your students? The goals I have for my students are to leave the classroom as confident individuals. I want them to look back at their sixth-grade year as a year where they see how much they grew both academically and emotionally. I want them to be curious about the world around them and enjoy becoming life-long learners. Above all, my biggest goal is for them to be kind and spread it around.
What do you encourage parents to do at home to help their children strengthen particular skills? Being a Language Arts teacher, I encourage parents to read with their kids. You are never too old to be read to, and reading leads to great discussions. Also, encourage self-advocacy skills. Helping their student understand it is okay to say, “I need help” will lead to great things and strengthen all skills.
What is your favorite movie? “Pitch Perfect.” It never gets old! I cannot wait for “Pitch Perfect II.”
What is your favorite musician or band? Pandora is always playing in my classroom as my students know – anything from Jack Johnson, to Bruno Mars, depends on the mood.
What’s something your students might not know about you? My two favorite memories from my time as a student are when I had a solo in seventh grade to “Build Me up Buttercup.” Although it went well, I cannot actually sing. The second, being my experience studying abroad in New Zealand.
