I started teaching at The Wheatlands during the 2004-2005 school year.  After graduating from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, I started my teaching career in Killeen, Texas, teaching first grade in 1989. After four years, we moved to Indianapolis, and I taught one year of early intervention. Then we moved to the Chicago area, where I taught two years of junior high school math, one year of second grade, and one year of a first/second grade split class for all for Maywood District 89. After taking a few years off to raise our daughters, I returned to teaching and have been at The Wheatlands ever since. While at The Wheatlands, I obtained my master’s degree in reading instruction from Aurora University, in Aurora, Ill., and I am also serving as an adjunct professor for Olivet Nazarene University, in Bourbonnais, Ill., in the area of reading instruction. I have served on several district committees mostly related to literacy and also stepped out of my comfort zone a bit and served on the district gifted committee as well last year.

In my role as an instructional coach, I will be using the knowledge and experience I have gained through obtaining my master's degree, serving on the district English/Language Arts committee, and teaching graduate school to guide me in my  position as Instructional Coach at The Wheatlands.  As an Instructional Coach, I collaborate with teachers to help them refine their teaching to help each student reach his or her maximum potential.  I also provide professional development opportunities and look at school and district wide data to help The Wheatlands improve and grow in all areas.  My favorite role is to work with students to help them grow and learn as well.