I have lived in Gainesville for over 25 years, have been working with children for 20 years (e.g., preschool, private tutor, teacher's assistant, teacher, teacher educator), and completed my doctoral degree in Education at the University of Florida (focusing on writing for adolescents).
I believe in creating a safe, community-oriented learning environment in which students learn in interactive and meaningful ways, are given the tools to succeed, and are enabled to be life-long learners. Additionally, I want my students to become active problem-solvers who have awareness of their ability to enhance the world in which they live.
Through the use of various assessment practices, I aim for students to gain strong metacognitive skills that can be utilized to self-monitor and self-regulate learning. From these assessment practices, I also seek to revise and refine my pedagogy.
I believe each person in the classroom is a learner, including the teacher. Continual learning and professional growth are at the center of great teaching. I believe that a great teacher develops from building relationships with students, the study of effective practice, being flexible and trying new things, and knowing how to gain access to research to learn more about effective pedagogical practice.