I started teaching at Montini in 2006. From my very first day at Montini, I knew I had found my new home! I love the students, every one of the staff members, and the strong sense of community and family feel that Montini provides.
I graduated from University of Illinois with a BS in Forest Management. I then worked for the Forest Service but wanted to further my education, so I went to graduate school at Webster University in St. Louis. While I was there, I worked at a middle school and discovered my love for teaching. In 2004, I received my Masters Degree in Education in Curriculum and Instruction. I am certified to teach Science and Mathematics at the middle school level.
While at Montini, I have taught 6th-8th Science, 8th Mathematics, 4th-5th STEM, and 6th-8th Engineering. In Science, my main goal is to make it almost a completely hands-on experience so students can understand the concepts in a more meaningful way. In Mathematics, I focus on making sure that each student can find success in a sometimes intimidating subject. Our main objective with STEM and Engineering is for the students to learn Engineering basics while focusing on important life skills like communication, collaboration, thinking outside of the box, and being able to fail and learn from it.
I have been taking professional development classes and lesson planning this summer and I am excited for another great school year