I grew up in South Eastern North Carolina around Mount Olive. I went to college at UNC-Chapel Hill and received a degree in Psychology (Go Heels!). My plan was to go back to grad school for a degree in guidance counseling. In preparation, though, I had to work in an elementary school and suddenly being a guidance counselor didn't seem like the right path for me. I felt I needed to be a classroom teacher instead. So I still went back to school, but this time to get a degree in elementary education. I taught kindergarten for four years at A.V. Baucom Elementary in Apex, but when the opportunity came to move to a school closer to home, I jumped at the chance. Luckily, I was hired on at Sycamore Creek and I got the once in a lifetime opportunity to open a new school. I can't tell you how excited I was about that. Now that I've been here for a few years I realize that was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Since joining Sycamore Creek I've gotten married and had two beautiful girls. These changes have greatly affected my teaching philosophy. I've always wanted to be a great teacher so that my students were prepared for the next grade. However, after my girls came along I became more aware of my students' emotional needs, as well as their academic needs. So every day I start out trying to be the teacher that I hope my girls have: knowledgeable, kind, loving, compassionate, and fun! One of my mentor teachers once told me, "If the kids aren't having any fun at school why would they want to be there?" I think about that every time I plan a new lesson. It is important to me that my students are having fun. I want to give them a great start to a long and successful school career and instill in them a love of learning. But I also want them to know they are loved and cared for while they are away from home.