As a child I wanted to be an inventor, an actress, a world traveler, but never did I imagine I wanted to be a teacher. When I got older, the only thing I knew is I wanted to be a mom and be home with my children, but I still never knew what I wanted to do as a career... until recently. I looked back at all the jobs I’ve ever held and somehow I’ve turned them into ways to educate others. Even when I go for a hike in the woods with friends, I look forward to sharing my knowledge of the rocks around us and how to read a map.As a Park Ranger in Yosemite, California, I was hired to work in law enforcement at the entrance station. But because my heart was in interpretation, I volunteered to lead campfire talks where I taught campers about the geology of Yosemite, and how to see the world around them in a different way. I used my audience as physical examples of the earth changing so my students could not only hear about the geology, but also experience it physically!My children and I love to go on hikes all over the USA. My children will ask how the mountains became the way they are, or the river became wide. Instead of answering them I give them tools so they can figure it out on their own. I will take friends and family all around Western New York just so I can share with them my appreciation and love for the world around us. It is inspiring to then see my children share their knowledge with their friends. My goal is to give all the children I teach a love of the world around them so they can appreciate and preserve the beauty that surrounds us.My passion is knowledge and understanding with the hope of conservation. I want children to seescience as an opportunity for the future. In Earth Science, students don’t realize you can translate the knowledge of the mineral composition of a rock, to an idea of how the earth was shaped millions of years ago. Science can be so exciting and it is my goal to make sure the students share in this excitement!