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Mrs. Moore's Inspiration
In 4th grade, I told my teacher, Debbie Moore, that I was going to be a teacher when I grew up. -
For the Love of Music
In 8th grade, my parents, who had little to give, scraped money together to buy me a professional model saxophone. I can still remember them asking me, "Are you sure this is going to be something you want to do?" I knew that music would be a lifelong passion. -
Senior Year
After two years of attempting to rise from 7th place to one of two chairs for Tenor Saxophone in the WV All-State Band, I placed 1st chair. I had my sights fixed on WVU for the fall of that year and entering the Music Education program. -
The Road Unforeseen
After 2 1/2 years as a saxophone major in the Music Education program at WVU, I switched gears, slightly and transferred to Fairmont State College where I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. -
Diploma in Hand. Finally
I graduated Fairmont State College with my BA in Elementary Education, Multi-Subjects, K-8th grade -
My Return to WVU
Without much thought, other than wanting to be a better classroom teacher (and needing to renew my teaching certificate), I entered the MA in Literacy Education at WVU. On a personal note, little did I know at the time that my, then, advisor and professor, would later be my future husband and father of my precious one year old. -
My First Classroom Job
First grade. With wonderful mentors, I discovered a side of myself I had never uncovered. I had an intuitive knack for teaching kids how to read and how to be authors. -
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Time Off for Isaac and Lucy
After my first classroom job, I taught one more year of 1st grade at a different school and then took off several years to be a stay at home mom. -
Return to Teaching
After some events in my personal life, I returned to teaching as a Title I Reading Specialist. -
Every Day Is a Winding Road
It's been 4 years since I became a Title I Reading Specialist. Since then, I've been an Instructional Coach, started my Doctorate in Literacy Education, started working on my National Board Certification, began the pursuit of a Math Certification, and have worked with some amazing educators. I'm entering my 7th year of teaching as an Academic Support Specialist and I can't wait to see what lies ahead! Oh, and by the way, I still have that saxophone. ;o)