I seek to respectfully promote educators’ (and students’) understanding of technology, creativity, autonomy, and collaborative learning. In addition, I look forward to the opportunity to support, challenge, and extend my own skill set fusing with those within this network. I hope to connect with all educators to focus on critical thinking and real-world application. By successfully modeling positive behavior and growth mindset, I believe that our collective educational community can be molded into an even more welcoming and innovative educational environment than it already is. I have presented to virtual and in-person meetings, kept up with Twitter chats and forms of social media, and have experience in all Google Workspace for Education tools, Google Admin, Edlio & Google websites, as well as ambassadorships for multiple digital platforms.

In addition to my current work experience in Westchester District 92½, I used to be a STEAM/coding/ELA teacher at Hillside School (SD 93), as well as a substitute teacher at both Hillside School (SD 93) in Hillside, Illinois & Komarek School (SD 94) in North Riverside, Illinois.

Prior to obtaining employment in Hillside School District #93, I served as a job coach and office coordinator for the Safer Foundation. This organization assists medium-security inmates with job searches, employment training and assistance, mock interviews, and the creation and editing of cover letters and resumes. I also assisted my clients in attaining clothing, housing, and necessary materials to obtain and retain gainful employment. I believed that the best way to help society was by assisting my clients after they had been released; to teach them to learn positive and productive ways to lead their lives. I know I can provide excellent technical and communication skills assistance to any person, especially after coaching and interacting with my clients through this position.

I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Rhetoric from the University of Illinois (Urbana/Champaign) in 2002. Through Lewis University, I completed my student teaching at Plainfield Central High School and received my Illinois Type 09 Teaching Certificate in English with a Language Arts endorsement. I earned my Master of Arts in Secondary Education (Content Area: English Language Arts) with a specialty in Reading Assessment & Instruction in 2006. I obtained my Middle School Endorsement from the University of Phoenix (2016) and my Technology Specialist endorsement (valid for K-12) through the University of Saint Francis (2019). 

As a teacher, students were involved as they participated in a variety of project-based learning assignments, independent gamified STEAM challenges (via FUSE Studio), coding & creating applications – using Project Lead the Way (PLTW), collaborating amongst one another, and learning digital skills and citizenship needed in a technology-filled world. As a technology specialist, I try to breathe life and relevancy into the curriculum every day for my peers. I try to bring their strengths to the forefront and assist them in taking ownership of their own craft. It is my duty to support the goals of each individual I coach and to work to progress each person to achieve their goal(s), and beyond. I built upon my knowledge as a teacher to strengthen my district staff in Westchester. I challenged educators to take a personalized approach to their educational technology implementation. By encouraging them to relate their core and essential class subject material and fusing them to digital artifacts that, either, eased their educational workload or simplified the amount of time they were spending on tasks, I believe myself to have been successful. I would like to build upon this experience and reach a larger community.

I am excited about the prospect of joining the K12Leaders Network. I would be thrilled to meet with you (virtually or in person) to discuss the contributions I can make in the near future! Please reach out and let’s make a connection! Thank you for reading this!