While I was in college I began my teaching journey as a Reading and Writing Tutor for Ramapo College of New Jersey. I quickly learned that not only did I love helping students with their academic writing, but I was also quite good at it. I worked closely with various Professors to ensure students were not only on task, but that their writing was grammatically correct and that they were able to properly use MLA citation. Because I was so successful at this job the college asked me to work their summer program with the Educational Opportunity Fund to assist at-risk students with remedial reading and writing courses and it was with this position that I truly realized that teaching was what I wanted to do with my life.

 

Upon graduating in 2005 I was hired by the college's Educational Opportunity Fund as their Supplemental Instruction Supervisor where my role was to hire and train tutors that were to work with at-risk students to ensure that they had all the tools needed to succeed in the college setting. My job duties included assessing tutors, analyzing data on students and the program, as well as creating out-reach materials for both the students and staff in the program. I loved this job, but I definitely missed teaching directly with students and as such I took on another job that allowed me to teach more. 

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It was at this time that I began working for Paterson, New Jersey's NJAfter 3 Program as a Creative Writing teacher to students in grades Kindergarten-4th grade.  A few days a week I was able to create my own lessons and teach students of my own. I was used to working with college aged students, but it was through this after school program that I realized I loved working with students of all ages. While showcasing my students' poetry at an event I was asked by a member of the Board of Education if I would consider teaching full-time for the district and it was then that I decided to do the Alternate Route to Teaching.

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After passing the teacher's exam in 2006 I began substituting in the Paterson school district and I also tutored SAT courses and basic reading and writing skills at Huntington Learning Center until I was awarded my temporary teaching license. When I finally received my teaching license I was immediately hired by the district of Paterson, New Jersey to teach Language Arts and I was the Language Arts teacher at PS 8 for 4 years before my family relocated to New Mexico in 2011.

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While working in Paterson I was awarded the Most Effective Teacher Award because of my students' academic growth in Language Arts. I was and still am very honored by this award. I had the privilege of having a group of students for two years in a row, for 7th and 8th grade respectively. When this group of students was in 6th grade only 20% of them were considered proficient in Language Arts according to state testing and I knew I could raise their levels significantly.  As their 7th grade teacher I was able to raise their proficiency levels from 20% to 52%. And then I had the pleasure of working with the same students again for 8th grade and got their Language Arts proficiency levels up even higher, from 52% to 73%. 

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I attribute my success with students because of my belief that all children can learn and will learn in my classroom. I believe in creating my own unique lessons that target student interests. I believe in differentiated learning where each student learns at their own level and pace. I believe in centers that are fun and interactive ways for students to learn or master new skills. And most importantly, I believe that when a teacher truly cares then the students will begin to care too. I have found that even the student that struggles the most in reading or writing will leave my class with a better appreciation and better knowledge of literature. 

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As you can see, it has been a long and beautiful journey to get to where I am, but I genuinely love teaching and I hope that you will genuinely love being in my class. I look forward to getting to know you all and I hope that we all grow academically and personally.