About Dr. Hand

Educational Preparation: (Colleges and Degrees)

1981 Belmont Abbey College, Belmont NC, BA in Special Education, Certified K-12

1984 University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN, MA in Special Education, Concentrations in Gifted Education and Emotional/Behavior Disabilities

1991 University of North Carolina, Charlotte NC, 15 semester hours in English as a Second Language (ESOL)

1995 Valdosta State University, Valdosta GA, 3 semester hours towards ESOL

2011 Valdosta State University, Valdosta GA, Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

Personal: This is my 36th year in the classroom, having taught since 1981 in four states and across six systems. Teaching is the only profession I have ever considered as my "dream job" from the age of six and you can be assured that I will be in the classroom each day for YOUR teen with the same enthusiasm, energy, and genuine LOVE of students as I had the first day I started teaching at the age of 21, fresh out of college...only I have a whole lot more experience and expertise at it than I did back on that first day! Not much surprises me any more, but each day, I continue to be amazed and delighted by my students!

I have lived in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Georgia. My husband of 37 years and I love to cook, kayak, and travel all over the world, especially to NYC- the part of the world where our two grown daughters, their husbands, our grandchild, and grand-dogs live. Three interesting facts that prove I'm up for a challenge---I have survived several hurricanes, an earthquake, AND a plane crash. YUP. A plane crash.