Q: What are your basic job responsibilities at Central?

A: My job at Central is to help support kids who have 504 plans, or who might need 504 plans. A 504 plan is for someone who needs accommodations to help them be successful in school life. For special education kids, they have something called an IEP, and they’re in a different category but it’s just a different kind of support.

Q: Where are you from, and what is your educational background?

A: I’m originally from Long Island, New York. I went to undergrad at Boston University, then I went to graduate school at the University of Cincinnati, and I’ve been in Naperville for about 19 years now, and both my kids went to Naperville Central.

Q: Did you have a previous job prior to coming to central?

A: My most recent experience was at a therapeutic day school.

Q: What is your main philosophy for teaching?

A: I think that I always came from a point of view that every individual kid has something awesome and amazing about them, and I always wanted to see them shine and look for that awesome, amazing thing in each kid, as well as to help them to believe in themselves and kind of work on what might be challenging for them. It’s about always understanding that they are awesome and amazing, even if they’re struggling. II think in working in special education, It’s easy for kids to get overwhelmed, and to not feel like they’re appreciated, or that people are recognizing all the really cool things they can do.

Q: What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?

A: Yes, I like to garden. I like to hike.