I'm not a new face at Woodland, it's my 8th year at Woodland and my 31st year in ISD196.  Education was not my first career, but it's my passion.  I've been a Digital Academy teacher, grades 4-5-6 classroom teacher and instructional technology specialist.  I worked at Dakota Hills Middle School, the District Office, Oak Ridge Elementary School and now Woodland Elementary School. 

I was a 5th grade teacher for many years and the change to Makerspace K-5 teacher has been a blast!!! It feels like all the areas I've worked get pulled together in Makerspace. I focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) during our time together. This year we will use the 4C's (communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking). We also use the Design Process for problem-solving throughout the year. (Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve, and Communicate) 

"Together we will learn to FISH"  When you provide someone with fish, they soon run out of food...but, if you teach them to fish they will be able to provide for themselves.  We've tried to live this motto while raising our family and I will continue to use it in our classroom community.  Fortunately, I have raised three engineers who are now teaching me how to "teach" real-life skills to my classroom of students. My two grandsons bring me smiles and teach me all kinds of new things also.