Introduction Video and Resume

Impact of Masters Program 

Throughout my graduate program in Early Childhood Education, I have developed a deeper understanding of how young children learn and how to create meaningful, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate learning experiences. This program has strengthened my ability to design instruction that meets the diverse needs of Pre-K students while grounding my teaching in research-based practices. I have grown not only in my instructional strategies but also in my mindset.

One of the most impactful experiences in this program was creating my diversity “fommercial,” The Inclusive Quilt: Where Every Stitch Tells a Story. This project challenged me to unlearn ideas like “colorblind” teaching and instead fully embrace the identities, cultures, and voices of my students. It helped me realize that my classroom is not meant to be a place where differences are hidden, but a place where they are honored. Like a quilt, each child brings something unique, and together, those differences create something meaningful and strong. This experience alone has reshaped how I view my role as a teacher and directly influenced how I build my classroom environment, ensuring that every child feels seen, heard, and respected! 

  Another significant experience was completing my research on bottom-up and top-down literacy approaches and combining them into a comprehensive literacy theories paper. Through this work, I gained a deeper understanding of how children develop reading skills, from foundational phonics to meaningful comprehension. I learned that effective literacy instruction is not about choosing one approach, but about balancing both to meet students’ needs. This understanding has transformed my teaching, allowing me to intentionally incorporate both structured skill-building and rich, language-based experiences in my Pre-K classroom. 

This program has pushed me to my limit, but what a blessing that has been. If I am being honest, I have cried (a lot), eaten WAY too much fast food, consumed a very questionable amount of caffeine, had to sacrifice sleep, and there were a few days where I considered dropping out because it would have been easier. But in the middle of those challenges, I have grown. Not only as an educator, but as a person... and to me that is the MOST valuable thing this program has given me. I persevere where I once gave up. I show up for others when I once thought I had nothing left to give. I have learned to trust myself in ways I never have before. I have confidence now that I am capable, that I CAN manage my time effectively, and that I am becoming the best teacher I can be. There were moments I truly didn't think I would be able to do this- BUT I DID!!!! And I will carry that with me into my classroom to get me through those hard days when you wonder why you ever decided to be a teacher. Because now I know what it means to push through, to grow, and to keep going... not just for myself, but for the children who need me to show up as my very best every day.