I have always had a desire for working with kids and for helping them toReach their potential and over the course of the years have worked alongSide of them in many capacities. From 1985-1996 I taught Sunday School(Jr.-Sr. High), assisted with the nursery/early elementary classes, as well as assisted with the youth in church programs and community activities. From 2001-2004 I worked as a noontime monitor at Ottawa Elementary School in Petoskey, MI. I assisted with students in the cafeteria and out on the playground. When it was needed I assisted with conflict resolution and helped with field trips, school fundraisers, and various classroom activities. I was a birthday party attendant from 2006-2008 at The Jungle Family Fun Center in Petoskey, MI. With that position I was in charge of party planning, organizing, and setting up. I was also responsible for product orders, clean up, and providing the kids, their families, and the public with quality service. From 2014 to present, as a literacy coach, I have coached and assisted at risk students, grades K-5, in the areas of reading and writing by gathering assessment data and assisting in the classrooms in many different capacities. I have worked one on one with these kids using small group reading, word building blocks, and alphabet dice to build words and to help gain an understanding of phonemic awareness. I have also worked in the classroom, assisting with literacy stations, small group reading, and small moment writing exercises. I have been a part of participating in as well as planning different community service projects i.e. Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month, Pipeline 5, Operation Christmas Child, and a clothing drive for Hurricane Harvey survivors. During the 2016-2017 academic year, ten of the thirteen students on my caseload reached benchmark. During the 2017-2018 academic year seven of my students have achieved benchmark. I believe my experiences have given me something special to contribute.