Hey teacher friend! As someone who’s always loved school and inspiring others, being a first-grade teacher is my ultimate dream come true. I had some incredible teachers who inspired me, and now I love sharing that spark with my students. With over 20 years of teaching under my belt, I’ve taught everything from kindergarten to fifth grade, but first grade has been my happy place for the last 12 years.

     One of the most humbling experiences in my teaching career was getting laid off as a tenured teacher and then returning as a substitute after being in the classroom for 8 years. Talk about unexpected! This experience taught me the power of flexibility and how being adaptable can lead to some amazing growth. It definitely helped me when I switched grade levels and moved classrooms multiple times. I’ve learned that flexible teachers are the happiest teachers!

     Thankfully, I returned to the classroom the next year. That’s when my journey took an exciting turn when I discovered CGI (Cognitively Guided Instruction) math. This approach revealed just how much math knowledge my students already had, and I loved helping them unlock their potential. Inspired by this, I began creating math resources for other teachers, focusing on student-centered learning. When I found out I was pregnant with my daughter after returning to teaching, I knew I had to streamline my systems to balance my career and family life too. Now, I can speed through planning and know exactly what to prepare for the week ahead.