Q: Can you tell me a little about your work in the special ed department, your responsibilities, what classes you teach? 

A: I work in the multi-needs room with a team of other teachers, Ms. Nikkel and Ms. Desjardine. We work in the multi-needs program with those that have more significant needs. We go out to community trips, to Walmart, Target, and we work on exchanging money, locating things that are at the store. We go to restaurants to work on social skills, and we go to other things that are in the community. 

Q: Where are you from, and can you tell me a little about your educational background?

A: I graduated from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, but my background is in special education and physical education. I got my LBS from Lewis University. 

Q: What was your previous job? 

A: I was working at Kennedy Junior High as a resource teacher in the sixth grade department. 

Q: Can you tell me about your hobbies and interests?

My family and I [are] outdoor people, so we go to a lot of national parks and we go camping and hiking. We love gardening. I love to be able to hang out with my family and also not to be so “as planned.” I like to be able to relax and have quiet time. I usually have quiet music in here, like nature sounds. We work on mediation, being still and paying attention to your breath.

Q: Why did you become a teacher?

A: I originally went into teaching because I really liked physical education. Selfishly, I loved being out of the classroom. You’d get to be outside and you essentially get to play all day with the students. With special ed, it’s similar. You’re breaking down skills to something that’s manageable so that they can be successful independently. I’m combining the things I love. 

We have a clean air initiative; we’re using plants that are approved by NASA that help take toxins from the air. One of those plants [is] a spider plant. We’re getting spider plants that are being donated from Naperville Hot Yoga, [and] we’re going to New Uses, lowering our carbon footprint so we don’t have to buy pre-made items. We’re going to get soil donated from Lowe’s and we’re going to be taking care of those plants and bringing them into our classroom and into our communities so we can help clean the air.

Q: Kind of bouncing off that, do you have a teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is child-centered. It’s student-centered. Students can learn — any student, and that’s whatever age. I’m here, and I’m still learning. Whoever is up there in that chair, at that board, whoever is up there facilitating or instructing, you’re still a learner. You’re always a learner. It’s student-centered, so if they feel safe, if they’re having fun, and they feel that there’s some kind of purpose, there’s going to be learning. 

Q: Do you have anything else to add?

A: I’m happy to be here at Central. I know I’m only going to be here for a semester, but I enjoy being back here.