Location: Texas
Education: BS in Education and CALT
Years Experience Teaching: 12
Years Experience In Dyslexia: 6
Teaching Experience
4 Years at an International Baccalaureate Elementary School
1 Year in a Self-Contained Kindergarten Class
5 Years in 3rd Grade as the ELAR Teacher
6 Years as a Dyslexia Therapist for grades 1-6
Professional Affiliations
ALTA (Academic Language Therapy Association)
LDT (Licensed Dyslexia Therapist)
Current Certified Texas Teacher
Programs Trained In
Take Flight (Scottish Rite)
Age Range You Feel Most Comfortable With:
Elementary age is my experience, but I welcome all.
Why did you decide to become a CALT?
I knew since I was in 2nd Grade that I would become an educator, and that never changed. I wanted to be “the” teacher that I never had. I personally had to take additional courses in one of my subjects throughout my entire educational career. I was “the” student that needed to come to school before it started to get additional help and worked twice as hard as my peers. I also took additional classes in college just to get into the regular class, at times I felt isolated and different, and wow, I spent so much extra time studying, memorizing, and reviewing. The great reward I gained from all of this is that working hard became a habit, and not feeling defeated about it gave me the confidence I needed which has helped me in all aspects of my life. It also gave me the added gift to relate to my dyslexic students and encourage them to keep trying no matter what obstacles they encounter.
In the classroom I saw I was gifted with helping students in their reading and spelling difficulties and knew I was meant to do more by really learning about and understanding dyslexia and finding a way to help them in life. I loved going back to school to learn the Take Flight program, it was eye opening to learn things that I had never known and to see it work when done properly.
The most beautiful gift I can give my students today, is to teach them to believe in themselves and through the Take Flight program, they will learn the WHY behind a lot of the reading and spelling rules that are challenging for them to understand right now.
Favorite moment working with dyslexic students?
When that quiet or shy student who started the program worried, shows their true bubbly self and grows in their confidence. I love when my students finally understand how beautiful their minds are and are then proud to be dyslexic.
Your goal when working with kids with dyslexia?
To give each student the power to build the necessary strategies to understand how to read and spell a word.
Your teaching style, personality?
I am always eager to learn and get excited about the content of our lessons. I find it is contagious when a student sees how fun learning can be. Our environment will be a safe one, where the student can trust that I am there for them. I want them to have another person in their corner that they can depend on.
Relationships are key and by starting with that, we will be able to tackle the rest, at the student’s pace. I will always encourage commitment and hard work from them, so that they can start to see the progress for themselves.
Any family details?
I have a sister who is a musician in Chicago, and a brother that loves living in New Hampshire with all the beautiful scenery. I live here in Texas near my parents with my goofy goldendoodle named Willow that you will hear about often.
Any extra anecdotal info you want to add?
I am excited to meet you and start our journey together. See you soon! 🙂
