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All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. -Walt Disney
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of some of my favorite things!
Just a Little About Me...
I am a Southern girl through and through. I love the history of our state and some of the traditions. I love that it has mountains and a coastline. I love Carolina BBQ, sweet tea, grits. I call of group of folks y'all and I won't hesitate to "bless his heart" and call you sweetheart or honey. No, I don't drive a tractor and I'm not really into country music but I do love that I was born and raised in North Carolina with the relaxed (at least when school is out....ha ha!) atmosphere and where you can talk to a complete stranger at the grocery store and not be considered a total weirdo! Yes, we do shut things down when there's even the threat of a snow day and a hot, humid July or August day will almost make you want to pour an entire cooler over your head!
I was born and raised in Rocky Mount, NC and I'm grateful that I had a generally normal and quiet childhood. I moved away from Rocky Mount in 1999 to attend college but I do go home quite often to visit my parents, aunts, uncles, and other friends. Although I'm not planning to ever live there again, I am glad that I can call eastern North Carolina home.
The first and most important love in my life is God but my family is a close second! Family is very important to me and I am very fortunate that most of my family lives nearby. I am a firm believer that there's very little in this world that we can accomplish alone. I know that my family has my back when I really need them and I'm fully aware that not everyone has that. Sure, we get on each other's nerves sometimes but what family doesn't have that problem? I know we still love and care for each other through thick and thin. So, you wanna meet them? If so, read on!
When I graduated from high school from Northern Nash Senior High in Rocky Mount, college was the last thing on my mind. I thought I could make my first million on my own so why would I need to go to college? HA! That all changed when I decided that I wanted to be a teacher more than
anything else.
While working full-time in a variety of positions including business, sales, and transportation, I enrolled in Nash Community College's transfer program. I only applied to one place to transfer: the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I graduated in 2004 with a BA in elementary education.
Go Heels! Class of 2004!
I love
Tarheel basketball & football and I enjoy attending games whenever possible. Spending time with family, especially my daughter, is one of my favorite things to do. I enjoy scrapbooking, reading, and singing. Photography is an interest mostly because I love to document life events and my travels. I also like movies, most types of music, history, and ANYTHING Disney!
(Look closely on our web site and you just might find some hidden Mickeys!)
In August of 2005, I started my first teaching job with Durham Public Schools at Fayetteville Street Elementary School in Durham, NC. After teaching fourth grade for 3 years there, I next took a position at Parkwood Elementary as the technology facilitator. Previously while attending UNC, my student teaching assignment was at Parkwood so it felt like I was coming home. I thought I would love the position but after a year of trying to teach computer skills to 650 students for 45 minutes per week, I decided that wasn't the tech facilitator model for me.
So I went back into the classroom to teach third grade. I looped to fourth grade with my Jewels and then taught another year of fourth grade for a total of 4 years at Parkwood. During my last year there, I was able to participate in AIG training for teachers at Duke. Now, normally I would never have anything positive to say about Dookies (GO HEELS!) but I have to admit that I got to experience an education program at its finest!
(I still hate Coach K, though!)
Kestrel Heights Charter School opened the K-5 part of their school in 2012 and I was excited for a new adventure there. I taught fourth grade for 3 years at Kestrel and I feel very honored to have been part of the inaugural group of KHES.
I began my teaching career with Wake County Public Schools in 2015 at Walnut Creek Elementary School. I made some amazing friendships and had wonderful Jewels in my classes while I was at WCES. I will truly miss them all and I hope to keep in touch with many of them!
I was very excited to continue my love of teaching with the Olive Chapel Elementary family starting with the 2017-2018 school year. I am so happy that I have found a supportive team of educators and families to work with at OCES and I look forward to staying for a long time to come. I taught some amazing kiddos at Olive Chapel Elementary and the lessons I learned helped me enhance my craft of teaching. My heart will always be a Clipper! (Still wear my anchor necklace every day!)
I'm honored to be a part of the Herbert Akins Road Elementary family. This marks my 18th year of teaching and although this career has its challenges, I can't imagine doing anything else every day than hanging out with my Jewels and teaching them new topics!
My daughter is the love of my life. I'm so honored to be her mother and she makes me want to be the best one I can be for her. Isn't she just the most adorable toddler in the picture above? Of course I'm a little biased! See below for more recent pictures.
First time at Disney headed to the Castle for breakfast to meet all the princesses. Belle was her favorite princess because, as she told me when we were trying to decide who she should dress up as, "Belle likes books".
First Day of Kindergarten
She has a been a lover of theater for a very long time. This was taken after she performed as Mary, the lead in The Secret Garden at age 9!
Right: First day of kindergarten
Left: Senior year of high school
Just a little story about this picture: my daughter had her senior pictures done without me there and surprised me with the "looking over the shoulder"pose because she remembered that was her first day of kindergarten pose. 💗😭 #bestdaughterever
Senior Portrait
High School Graduation Day from Athens Drive High School
She started college at Appalachian State University in the fall of 2021. Although I miss her every day, she's having a blast at school!
Touring the campus April 2021
Move In Weekend
Moving into her dorm August 2021
UNC vs. App State game @Dean Dome, Chapel Hill, Dec 2021
#housedivided 😊
I also love to travel. My sister and I spent about a month in London participating in a travel abroad program through UNC. While in London, we visited Edinburgh and Paris. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I recommend it to everyone!
My parents, my daughter and me in 2008 at one of my favorite places on Earth!
My youngest brother is pictured above with my daughter. I have one other brother who lives in California (pictured below).
My mother and my sweet baby a long time ago (my baby is almost 19 now!)
My grandparents (dad's parents)
My grandfather also passed away in 2013 and my grandmother (pictured above) in 2019.
My beautiful sister, Amy and Ama. We called my grandmother Ama, a nickname from my daughter when she couldn't say Mema. Ama passed away in 2013. I miss her quite a bit and I look forward to the time I'll see her again.
My dad and brothers
My sister and brother-in-law
My beautiful daughter, niece and handsome nephew
Page Updated 8/19/22
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