I believe that teaching goes far beyond the books.  There is so much more to teaching than simply focusing on the curriculum and meeting the standards.  As an educator I believe in building trusting relationships with my students in order to foster their growth.  I believe every student has strengths and it is my job to help enhance those.  I want to help build self-confidence in my students and make sure they know that I believe in them.  I celebrate the small successes, the big successes and all the growth done in between.  There is no cookie cutter approach to education and it is up to me to find what works for my students.

Special education is a unique path that requires patience, humor, understanding, flexibility, empathy and the desire to advocate for your students.  Special education depends on relationship building and connecting with students; understanding that their brains may be wired differently than the typical student.  Finding the ways to effectively teach students is like a magical puzzle.  The type of puzzle in which the pieces change sometimes.  What works one day may not work on another day or in another time.  But those pieces will eventually fit together again, and it is my goal to continue trying to out the puzzle back together to completion.