Educator Profile

Educators are so many things to so many people. To my family, I am mother, wife, nurturer and provider. Keeper of Band-Aids and fruit snacks. To my school community, I am teacher and leader, a believer in the value and dignity of all that pass through the building entrance. 

 

I believe that we should seek to understand others before we lead them. Without that knowledge, it is impossible to acknowledge the strengths and unique contributions of others.

As a mom, I try to parent each day to raise up children to be fearlessly antiracist, compassionate and full of light to share with the world. I'm unsure most days if I'm really succeeding, but both I owe it to both my sons (Liam, 6, and Sullivan, 3) to keep trying. 

As a wife, I spend too much time reading books when I'm supposed to be folding laundry. But that's what happens when both your to-do lists and to-read lists are quite long. Joslyn and I love trying new restaurants, battling each other over board games, and finding our own sense of community in the world. 

As a teacher, I find contentment in knowing the contributions I make serve the community and empower others. 

Education

I earned my B.S. in Secondary Education from University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2012. I hold endorsements in English and Biology, 7-12. In 2021, I earned a M.Ed. from Midland University and submitted my National Board Certification portfolio. I am currently completing a Principal 7-12 endorsement from Midland and a M.A. in English Literature from University of Nebraska-Omaha. 

Experience

I am currently an English Teacher (Honors Sophomore English) and a Student Assistance Team Coordinator and Building 504 Coordinator for Burke High School in Omaha, Nebraska. As a SAT Coordinator, I seek to support students when tier 1 interventions prove unsuccessful. I work alongside families and school staff to create systems of collaboration to benefit the student, as well as using evidenced-based interventions to improve student achievement. In addition to teaching for Omaha Public Schools, I am a Summer Academy Teacher and mentor for two Upward Bound programs in the city, Nebraska Methodist College and Creighton University. I have nearly a decade of ACT Prep. tutoring and work with the students in these programs to increase their ACT scores. 

I have taught as a Master Teacher for the Reconstructing Curriculum cohort, facilitated by Minnesota Humanities, and I've participated in more than 10 equity-focused course offerings from the organization. In the fall of 2021 I'll be joining Midland University as an adjunct instructor in their M.Ed. program. 

At Burke, I've worked with students, families and staff in various capacities. A former Gender-Sexuality Alliance sponsor and Louder than a Bomb slam poetry coach, I always look for ways to connect with students beyond the classroom. I am currently a cheerleading coach and have been working with the program for six years. From MTSS-B, curriculum writing, professional development facilitation and school improvement planning, I have experience in many areas of school programming. Additional experiences in leadership can be found on the Leadership page. 

Strengths

My strengths as an educator include a commitment of equity, communication, empathy, relationships, and empowering other educators to implement their vision for their classrooms. I believe in the joy that comes from elevating others to succeed in their goals and contributing to the growth of those around me. I believe in the power of education and community, the fervent belief that education is opportunity - opportunity to learn, to grow, to connect, to change. 

Vision, Mission & Beliefs

Vision
I am a catalyst of change at Burke High. 

• As a teacher, I challenge and inspire students to grow academically and beyond. 
• As a SAT Coordinator, I positively contribute to student and staff success, resulting in a decrease in behavior referrals and an increase in student achievement for at-risk populations. 

 
Mission
 I ignite positive change at Burke High by creating safe spaces for students to connect with the resources they need to succeed, implementing rigorous and engaging instruction in my classroom, and using every student or staff interaction as an opportunity to make a positive impact. 
 
Contributing Beliefs
I believe teaching is both dynamic and reciprocating: because relationships are the foundation of effective instruction, learning is a shared experience that allows students to impact me just as much as I impact them. I believe all students are valuable and worthy of my greatest efforts, and there is no substitute for each student’s perspective in the classroom. Reading and writing is the active investigation into the world around us; reading about the experiences of others teaches us about the lives of others and the world we share, and a person’s experiences uniquely shape how they read and write about the world.  We learn best as a community where each member contributes these unique experiences and perspectives.
 
Relevant Examples

• Warmly greeting all students that cross my path
• Seeking out community resources when I am ill equipped to meet a student’s needs
• Facilitating collaboration among parents and staff to develop plans of intervention
• Treating all individuals as if they are all worthy of my time and effort