I'm so excited to be starting my 8th year at Komarek! In the 2021-2022 school year, I will be moving into the role of educational technology specialist / coordinator. I previously taught science to grades 6-8 from 2014-2019, and science/math from 2019-2021. Before working at Komarek full-time, I completed my student teaching at Riverside Brookfield High School in biology and honors biology classrooms. I was a long term substitute here at Komarek for math and science and then again for ELA. I also served as a long term substitute at South Elgin High School in biology and honors biology classrooms.

I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign with majors in molecular and cellular biology and psychology. I received my master of arts in teaching from National Louis University in secondary education with a middle grades endorsement.

I have a special interest in educational technology and spend a great deal of my spare time exploring the opportunities different programs and software offer my students. I love seeing the walls of my classroom disappear as students begin to explore the world outside of these four walls through the magic of tech.

I live in a nearby suburb with my husband and two inquisitive daughters. My hobbies outside of school include cooking, crafting, answering questions like "why are tomatoes red?" and "what is your third favorite sea creature?" all day, every day (chlorophyll breaks down to carotenoids and jellyfish, respectively), and reading. I can't wait to get to know all of you and your families this school year!