Q: I’ve been told you work in the special education department. What do you teach? 

A: I teach two biology classes here, and then I teach Health and English at North. So I actually travel between the two.

Q: Where are you from? And what’s your educational background?

A: I’m from Michigan. I’m from a suburb outside of Detroit, and I actually went to beauty school right after high school. I did that for a few years. Then I moved to Washington state, where I got started in special ed. I moved back out here to be closer to family, which is when I came to Illinois, and that’s when I went back to school to get my bachelors, and LBS-1, it’s called. It’s a special education bachelors. After this school year, I’m going to go back and get my masters. I went to National Louis, a teaching college in Chicago.

Q: What was your job before coming to Central?

A: Before I came to Central, I was a special education teacher teaching social studies in U.S. history for junior high seventh and eighth graders in Elgin, and before that, I did my student teaching at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. And I was also an aide in Libertyville, District 70.

Q: What are your hobbies, or something you like to do outside of work?

A: I really like to travel. Disney is one of my favorite places to go. I’m actually getting married five weeks from today, and I’ll be a maid of honor two months later. I just moved this weekend, so this summer, I didn’t get to do most of my hobbies just because I was, you know, consumed with all this other stuff. But I like to see live concerts, and I just like spending time with my family and soon-to-be husband.

Q: Why did you become a teacher?

A: I actually have a cousin who is special needs. He was told he would never make it past second grade. And now he has his doctorate degree. So It’s very, very cool. It was super encouraging to see that. I felt I could give back to the students and help kids. I really like helping kids. And that’s why I like special ed too, because it’s a small group setting. And just being able to get to know the kids, too.

Q:What is the philosophy you hold about teaching or what can students expect from you?

A: So I think the most important thing about teaching is building the relationships with my students and them getting to know me and me getting to know them, especially as a special ed teacher. It’s knowing their learning styles, and how I can best help them to learn that is really important, and just being a consistent figure for them. That’s my philosophy on teaching. Being consistent and always being there for them and encouraging them along the way.