Experience

I have taught people of all ages through a variety of jobs: environmental educator, National Park Service ranger, teaching assistant at the UR & UGA, adjunct professor at Georgia Perimeter College, and home-school teacher. I currently teach at EGCCNS Preschool in East Granby.

Working with people of diverse ages and abilities has given me a unique understanding of the different ways people learn. I love teaching, and learning – I am always seeking ways to increase my skills and knowledge as a teacher and as a person.

Education

I have a M.S. in geology from UGA, and a B.S. in biology & geology, summa cum laude, from U of R (NY). I have a background in science, research, and statistics, as well as medical knowledge from EMT training.

Suffield Background

I grew up in Suffield, and attended Suffield public schools from kindergarten through 12^th grade. While at SHS, I was our student representative to the Board of Education and our class valedictorian; volunteered with the Friends of Kent Memorial Library; and worked for KML and Suffield Parks & Rec. I have fond memories of learning to swim at Sunrise Park, churning butter at the 1975 Bicentennial celebration, and performing music with Joe Migliore and the late Frank Pacocha.

After moving to Georgia for graduate school, I returned to Suffield in 2016 with my family; our children are currently in 10^th, 4^th, and 2^nd grade in Suffield schools. I am actively involved with both the Friends of KML and ABAR Suffield, and also enjoy volunteering with my younger children’s classrooms – but I am anxious to be more involved with the school system as a whole.

Why I’m Running for the Board of Education

Suffield Public Schools have wonderful educators and administrators. I am an enthusiastic believer in public education, and I have been tremendously grateful to my children’s teachers as we have all navigated the stress of the last two years under the shadow of COVID-19.

One of the most important things schools can teach our children is how to think critically – how to assess information, how to determine whether something is true. I hope to advocate for inclusion of critical thinking skills – which are important for any post-high-school careers – in classroom curricula.

We are navigating deeper understandings of our history as a country, as a state, and as a town. Our schools have the responsibility to be a safe space for children of all backgrounds; as we in Suffield evolve in our understanding of what this means, I hope to be a voice promoting equity and reaching across the table to people from different cultural backgrounds, preparing all our children for success in a multicultural world.

Another important challenge to our schools is meeting the needs of children with diverse learning styles. Having worked in academia and studied statistics, I am comfortable reading and summarizing current research on how to help children thrive in the classroom. As we prepare our students to shine in the 21^st century, I hope to help give them the best possible start by advocating for practices shown by research to create the best environments for learning.