What led you to become an educator, and what do you love most about teaching?
When my daughter was in kindergarten, I was a stay-at-home mom and regularly volunteered in her classroom. I quickly formed close bonds with her classmates, and soon they would run to greet me with hugs and stories the moment I walked through the door. It was in those precious moments that I realized I wanted to work with children. To this day, what I love most about teaching is forming meaningful relationships and having the opportunity to pour love into the lives of my students.

How does your faith influence your work in the classroom and with students?
John 15:12 says, “Love each other as I have loved you.” My goal as a teacher is to reflect that kind of unconditional love every day and to extend grace as my students learn the difference between right and wrong. I also love teaching them about prayer and showing them that they can pray for others. Hearing their sweet prayers for their families is one of the most heartwarming parts of my job.

What is something unique about the way you teach or the way you connect with students?
I love teaching my Pre-K students through hands-on activities. Group learning games are my favorite! I believe that full-body interaction keeps their attention and helps them better retain what they’re learning through multisensory engagement. It makes the classroom come alive.

What are your favorite things to learn, explore, or talk about with students?
My favorite unit to teach is emotions. At this age, understanding emotions is a vital skill. Once children can identify what they’re feeling, we can begin working together on how to manage those emotions in healthy ways. As their teacher, I aim not only to support their academic growth but also to help them mature into the person God created them to be.

When you're not at school, how do you like to spend your time?
I love spending time with my daughter and son! We enjoy playing board games, baking together, and dancing around the kitchen. I also have many hobbies, including photography, gardening, fishing, kayaking, and archery. One of my favorite ways to unwind is reading my Bible on the porch with a hot cup of coffee.

What’s one hope or prayer you have for your students this year?
I pray that every child who steps into my classroom knows they are loved, cherished, and a blessing from God. I also pray that I can help ignite a love for learning in their hearts—one that stays with them throughout their entire educational journey.