Meet the Teacher

Let me introduce myself........

I am from Shawnee, OK and attended grades K-12 there, although my parents now live nearby in Edmond. I received my B.A. in Elementary Education from Oklahoma Baptist University. I also received my M.Ed. in Early Childhood from the University of Oklahoma.  In 2004, I successfully completed and passed the rigorous process to attain National certification by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards in Early Childhood Education.

I began my teaching career in the Norman Public School district in 1992 teaching 1st grade at Lincoln Elementary for 3 years and teaching 1st and 2nd grades at Roosevelt Elementary for 11 years.  I am currently teaching at Rose Union Elementary in Deer Creek. This year marks my 17th year in education!

My instruction and practices in the classroom are grounded and based on current research-based findings, theories, and works of Early Childhood figures John Dewey, Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. I am also involved in a variety of professional organizations. I have been a member of Phi Delta Kappa, a professional fraternity for educators, International Reading Association, Oklahoma Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Association for the Education of Young Children, and PTA.

In addition to these professional organizations, I have served on the following committees:

• Student Assistance Program (1 year)
• Language Arts Advisory Board (1 year)
• Mathematics Advisory Board (1 year)
• Language Arts Advisory Board (1 year)
• Arts in Education (2 years)
• Gifted and Talented Advisory committee (1 year)
• PRO Teacher for Technology (3 years)

I currently serve on the Board of Directors as Vice President for Elementary for Oklahoma Council of Teachers of Mathematics. I also represent Rose Union as a member of the Deer Creek Public School Foundation.

Educational presentations I have made include:

• International Reading Association Regional Conference
• Oklahoma Networks for Excellence Winter Meeting
• Univ. of Ok Undergraduate Children's Literature class
• Univ. of Ok Undergraduate Parent Involvement class
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Regional Conference
• Oklahoma Council of Teachers of Mathematics Summer Institute
• Education Leadership Oklahoma Conference for National Board Candidates
• Oklahoma State Dept. of Education Math and Science Conference
• Oklahoma Technology Association Conference

Each summer I extend my teaching year through various summer programs:

• Kites and Rocketry at Oklahoma Aerospace Academy
• Autism Extended School Year program
• Education Center at the Ft. Worth Zoo in Texas
• Smithsonian T-Rex Voyager Summer school program in Norman
• Vacation Bible School

I am also an educational consultant/trainer for Voyager Expanded Learning in Dallas, TX each summer. This allows me to train teachers across the nation in effective teaching strategies for summer instruction. In addition, I recently became a certified K-2 trainer for McGraw-Hill Everyday Mathematics.

In addition to my career opportunities during the summer, I have been very fortunate to be the recipient of 15 educational grants funded by the Norman Public School Foundation and Oklahoma Educators Credit Union. These grants have totaled over $4,000.00. These materials include:

• math, science, social studies and reading CD-ROMS;
• Reading Rainbow math and science videos that correlate with units of study;
• geometric solids to explore, inquire, and discover concepts of shape; calculators, tangrams, balances and scales for mathematical concepts;
• dramatic play prop boxes and costumes
• cultural bookbags with literature, map puzzles, and student atlases centered on the seven continents
• Alphasmart portable word processors
• Teacher resource materials for word play activities

My husband and I enjoy OU football games, traveling, photography, gardening and landscaping, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.  We are also active members of Crossings Community Church and enjoy social and missions projects with our sunday school class.

I am honored to share your children with you this year. Please feel free to email, phone, or write a note to me if you have any concerns or questions!