Education: I have my B.A. in English from Marymount College which is now part of Fordham University. I have an M.A. from Western Connecticut State University in English. I received my teaching certificate while I was working on my Masters in Education with a concentration in literacy from Sacred Heart University.
When did you join the SMS Family? Did you always want to be a teacher?
I joined the SMS family in August 2007. While I have been a teacher for over 25 years, it was not the career I thought about when I was young. At one point, I thought working in a bank would be fun and for a few years I dreamed of being a flight attendant. I am blessed to teach at SMS and no other career path would have been the one for me.
What is your favorite book to teach per grade?
Each grade has a book that I look forward to teaching every year. In 6th grade it is The Cay. The unlikely friendship and the bond between the main characters is something students enjoy seeing unfold. For 7th grade the first book we read, Long Walk to Water, teaches lessons in empathy and gratitude. And in 8th grade, To Kill a Mockingbird, provides students with an opportunity to see that to better understand others is to see life from another’s point of view, or as Atticus Finch says, “to climb into his skin and walk around in it”.
How do you see your students grow over the three years you teach them?
When students begin middle school, they still have a hint of elementary school in their demeanor, in their writing, and in their book choices. However, as time goes on, they mature and grow as individuals, and that is reflected in their personalities, in their perspectives, and in their writing.
What is your favorite place on Earth?
My favorite place on earth is the Hawaiian island of Kauai. I visited there 3 years ago and will be returning this summer with my brother and my niece and nephew.
Do you have a favorite bible verse or favorite quote?
My favorite bible verse is Philippians 4:13, “ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.