I like to tell people that I am the product of a language experiment designed and conducted by my dad!  He was a Spanish teacher for 30ish years in Charlotte, and he has always spoken Spanish to me and with me. I grew up acquiring my first and second languages concurrently.  Spanish has always played such a huge role in my life that it was a complete no-brainer that I would major in Spanish in college.  I graduated from UNC-Wilmington (Go Seahawks!) with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and NC Teacher Certification for Grades K-12. My first Spanish-teaching position was at Hoggard High School, beginning with Spanish 1 and 2 and later moving to Spanish 3 and 4.  Instilling and cultivating an appreciation for the Spanish language and culture in my students was a rewarding experience that got me hooked on teaching forever!

A few years later, I became interested in English as a Second Language and pursued an additional teaching certification through NC State (Go Wolfpack!).  I obtained my NC Teacher Certification for ESL Grades K-12 and began work at Pender High School. I have taught ESL both in Pender County and New Hanover County, with six of those years at Bradley Creek Elementary.  I also served as the District ESL Coordinator, Lead ESL Teacher, and Title III Literacy Coach for Pender County Schools.  Working with native Spanish-speakers allowed me to use my Spanish on a daily basis and offered me a unique insight into the reasons people may leave their home countries to seek a better life elsewhere and the challenges that ensue.

On a personal note, my husband Dave and I have been married for 30 years.  We have two wonderful sons who both attended WAAS.  Ben graduated from UNCW in 2024 with a BS in Mathematics and a minor in Economics. He is currently working as an Operations Analyst for Coastal Beverage Company.  Joseph has just begun his second year at UNCW.  He is planning to major in English, minor in Japanese, and complete teacher education courses through a program called Online Teaching and Learning (or maybe switch to Library Science).

Our friends and family members have heard us say (repeatedly) that enrolling our children in WAAS is one of the best decisions we have ever made!  I am honored to be part of the WAAS family as a staff member and look forward to another great year together.