As an educator, there are three main things that drive me: teaching students how to think critically instead of what to think, refining a curriculum that gives windows to see other perspectives and mirrors to better see oneself, and the importance of honing in on every student’s strengths to help them be successful. With over a decade of teaching experience – in the classroom and in the arts – I am passionate about continually developing my skills as an educator.I develop and implement curriculum in diverse urban and suburban classroom settings. Tracking student progress and analyzing the data informs my teaching practice. I integrate social emotional learning into daily routines. Balanced literacy in my classroom involves whole group instruction, guided reading groups, and targeted strategy lessons for comprehension, decoding, and fluency. Through this literacy instruction, our grade team has raised test scores for all students. Math instruction is a combination of inquiry-based approaches, with targeted strategy lessons. Productive struggle and fun challenges help students develop grit and resilience in solving problems. Science and social studies curriculum is informed by UDL practices, allowing students multiple access points to learning content. Collaboration with other teachers is vital, as is integration of music, dance, and visual art across all subject areas. My teaching experience spans grades 1 to 7, and I enjoy opportunities to collaborate with and receive coaching from excellent educators. Prior to working in public schools, I worked as a ballroom dance instructor with Arthur Murray International, teaching individual and group lessons. My work as an educator is meaningful and brings me joy. I grow with the challenges that come my way and truly enjoy building genuine relationships with each of my students. Writing is my favorite subject to teach, as it allows each student to find their voice and communicate their ideas to the world. I prioritize social emotional learning in my classroom, and know that this will prepare students to be active and conscientious members of our global community. I have a Masters in Elementary Inclusive Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a BA in Music from Gordon College. I'm always interested in connecting and collaborating with others who work in education and related fields - feel free to reach out!
Listed skills include Cross Cultural Communication Skills, Mentoring, Achieving Measurable Results, Individualized Instruction, and 23 others.
