About Me

I was born in Ohio and grew up in New Jersey. After high school I lived in Atlanta, Georgia and Cali, Colombia before settling in North Carolina. I live in Durham with my husband and dog; between us we have 3 grown sons. I enjoy traveling, reading, dancing, and gardening.

Why I became an English Language Teacher

While I was growing up, my father and uncle frequently traveled overseas for their jobs. I loved hearing about their experiences in different countries around the world, and it sparked my life-long interest in other cultures and languages. During high school I was an AFS exchange student to Ecuador. I’ve never forgotten what it was like to be submerged in a different culture and language. That experience inspired me to become an EL teacher – I know first-hand how hard it is to master a new language and figure out the rules of an unfamiliar culture. It's very rewarding to guide students through the process of learning English and navigating American culture, and I enjoy learning about other cultures and languages from my students.

Teaching experience

I've taught for 32 years, and this is my 26th year in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. I‘ve been an ESL/ESOL Specialist at every grade level kindergarten through 12th and for every English proficiency level newcomer to advanced. In this role I provide English Language Development instruction and academic support to EL students, as well as instructional collaboration with content teachers. Before working in CHCCS, I taught Southeast Asian refugees in Clayton County, Georgia (near Atlanta) and international students at Colegio Colombo Británico, a bilingual British IB World School in Cali, Colombia.

Credentials and education

I am a National Board Certified Teacher and hold NC teaching licenses for ESL, English Language Arts (9-12), Reading/Literacy, and Spanish. In addition, I'm licensed as a Curriculum & Instruction Specialist and earned the NC Global Educator Digital Badge. I hold BA degrees in English and Economics, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, from Emory University in Atlanta. I also did postgraduate certification studies in TESOL at the University of Georgia, Spanish Language & Literature at North Carolina Central University, and Curriculum, Instruction & Supervision at UNC Wilmington.