I am so excited about this year and this opportunity to get to know you and your child. The term S.P.I.C.E. stands for Social, Pragmatics, Independence, Communication and Emotional Regulation. They are the spice of our life and they bring wonder and magic to our lives. I feel honored to have a little part in their lives and future. Thank you for sharing them with me.

You might like a little information about me before the year begins. I graduated from Arizona State University in 2002 with my Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, and then I received my Master’s Degree from Northern Arizona University in 2006 in Early Childhood Education and received an Autism Specialist Certification from The Arizona Department of Education in 2006. During my years of teaching, I taught Special Education Preschool, Emotionally Disabled, SPICE Kindergarten, and Adapted PE. In 2010 I started teaching SPICE Intermediate and I truly love working with this age range of students. I enjoy the challenges and rewards I get when I work with the students. I live in Gilbert with my husband Shane and we have 13 year old twin girls Addyson and Abigail who with be 7th Graders at South Valley Jr. High.

I have 3 Para-professionals this school year. My Para’s are Michelle Townsend, Mercedes Cooper and Kathy Almedia. You will be very happy with the way all of my Para’s work with your child. They have a great sense of humor, compassion and expertise. They come to us with many years of experience combined. My staff and I team teach and I could not run my classroom without them.

It’s very important to us and to the education of your child that you take a part in your child’s school year. Together as a team we will focus on their IEP benchmarks and help your child be better prepared. We will also explore many themes and skills that are part of the regular curriculum. We will be teaching your child academics as well as life skills. We need your help to reinforce the skills your child learns here at school, at home. Periodically throughout the year I will ask for materials to help with the projects we are working on and I always can use an extra pair of hands in the classroom. These are just a few ways you can stay involved and help us give your child the best education possible.