Hello! Welcome to my Meet the Teacher page. I did my undergraduate work at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, majoring in elementary education and graduated in 1980. I received a master’s degree in special education at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, in 2002 and a master’s degree in reading at Concordia College, Chicago, in 2012. Early in my career, I taught kindergarten, third and fourth grades at St. John Lutheran School in Mt. Prospect, IL. Then I moved to Wisconsin where I taught grades one through four and sixth grade at Potosi Elementary School from 1983-93. During the 1990-91 school year, I participated in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program, teaching fourth grade in northern Alberta, Canada. From 1993-95 I worked for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as the project coordinator for a Drug Free Schools’ grant, supervising teams of teachers across the state. Following that, I went back to Potosi and taught reading and early childhood special education for six years. I came to Homestead Elementary in 2003 serving first as a reading specialist and am currently the Instructional Coach. In this position, I oversee our curriculum, provide staff development and I have the honor of supporting all of the teachers, students and families associated with Homestead.

What I like best about working in education is seeing children grow as they build on what they already know. Helping them feel successful and motivated as they learn is critical to me. I also enjoy collaborating with colleagues and families while supporting children in creative and meaningful ways.