Hi there! I'm so glad you clicked to learn more about me! Have you read my Start Here page? It contains a great introduction to me and my passions as an educator and my mission for this blog. If you've already read that, feel free to continue reading below to learn more about me!

When I first started teaching as a 5th grade teacher in 2005, I spent so much time trying to learn the curriculum, planning, and searching for ideas. (Sound familiar?!?!) I invested so much time in my lessons (and really, just learning because everything was new to me) that I was so eager to share all of my hard work with my teammates. A few years later, I decided to launch my first blog, Life, Love, Literacy. I felt SO good about the opportunity to share all that I was learning and doing in my classroom with other teachers! And I loved the reflection that I gained from writing blog posts!

Although 11 years went by in a blur, I know I've had a long career teaching upper-elementary students. I spent the first 9 years teaching mostly 5th grade at a year-round school. During my time there, I had two amazing opportunities to loop from 4th to 5th with my students, completed a Master's degree in K-12 Reading, and earned my National Boards Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist. Ready for something new, I spent the past two years teaching 4th grade at a charter school with a project-based learning focus. This past year, I was blessed to get to teach core subjects to my 4th graders as well as 5th grade math for my students from the previous year. Can you tell I like to hold on to my students for as long as possible?

I have recently seized the opportunity to take some time off from teaching in the classroom to focus more on my family and business. At age 31, I met the love of my life, Nick, and we married a year later. He supported me through one job resignation and in May 2016, he encouraged me to focus on my passion for designing resources and encouraging teachers full-time. I am so blessed to have married someone who sees risk-taking as a part of life (as I am not known to be a risk taker!) and who supports me all along the way.

I am one of those born teachers. I have wanted to be a teacher since Kindergarten and for a long time, I could never imagine myself not being a 4th or 5th grade classroom teacher, but it's exciting for me to open myself up to other opportunities! I'm not sure what doors will open in the next year or so, but I am finally okay with not having it all figured out at this very moment!