Education;

Harford Community College AA degree in Psychology 01'

Faulkner University B.S. Degree ( double major) Psychology (with a focus on adolescent behavior) and Human Services 22'

Faulkner University Masters Degree ( MSW) 24'

Yoga Certification through Kay Yoga 19'

AOB Mental Health and Training certification for teens 22'

Experience: I have 15 years of teaching experience in a classroom and in the gymnastics community. I began teaching preschool at the Montessori School in Baltimore County. I also was the first teacher to start our PREP program. (preschool educational program at the Harford Gymnastics Training Center). As well, I taught at the Saint Margaret School in Bel Air teaching six- grade religion and the youth minister for the middle school campus.

At SJA: I along with Mr. B have 8th grade homeroom, I teach the upper school in religion ( 6h, 7th, 8th) as well as 4th grade religion. Prek-8th grade physical education, health, and yoga. Personally I feel, reviewing and learning the history of our Catholic faith as well as deepening our relationship with Jesus, showing kindness to ourselves and to others is key to passing this along to our students. We will learn with discussions, power points, daily self-reflections in our journals, retreats, plays at Easter, and Christmas, field trips and much more. Each 6th, 7th, and 8th grader will be given their own catholic youth bible to keep. Deacon Ray and our youth minister Mr. Nate will be joining me for our third year helping out with weekly teachings of our bible.

Bio: I am very excited to be a part of the Saint Joan of Arc school. This is my 8th year teaching at SJA. I have 5 children of my own. Kristina and Cameron graduated high school a few months ago and will begin their next chapter as freshman at Towson University, they will also be playing club lax there. Krizzia is a junior and Coop is a sophomore they have followed in their older siblings footsteps and are in the magnet bio-med program at Perryville high. Krizzia plays soccer and lax, and Coop who is captain for his high school soccer team and plays lax as well. Eva is an 8th grader at SJA and she plays lax and as the baby of 5 she keeps us all in check! We also have three dogs at home named Bo, Luna-Mae, and our baby pug Hank. My children and I enjoy hiking , pretty much every weekend on the trails of the Susquehanna, yoga classes, watching movies from the 80s, going to different restaurants, and just being together! All 5 of my children are rugby players, 3 of them are blackbelts in Tae-kwon-do, my four oldest work at MacGregors in Havre de grace, stop by to say hello! We like to be active, treat others how we want to be treated and share our love and light in our daily lives.

My goal is to provide an energetic and positive environment for all grades and personal levels. I feel that a healthy, confident performance in physical activities compliments a confident approach in the classroom - and we will have some fun along the way! I am a former competitive gymnast, field hockey, and lax player. I understand the balance children need physically/ mentally /academically / spiritually/ to thrive in all settings. I have every confidence I can contribute to the continuing Catholic education of your children and that your children will look forward to coming to my class. Please feel free to contact me:

mblackburn@stjoanarc.org