Dear Students and Families,

 

Welcome!  I'm happy to be working with you and your child this year.  I love to teach and work with kids.  When I'm not teaching, I like to play with my two teenage boys, care for our pets (1 dog, 2 cats, 5 chickens, and 12 saltwater fish), cook, garden, read, hike, and goof around.  

 

I have a passion for unique learners.  Over my career, I have had many years of experience working with students identified as highly dependent learners or highly capable (and in a few cases both) learners.  No matter the ability, as I work alongside each student, I take the time to recognize and celebrate their progress, which causes my passion for teaching to grow!

 

Carol Tomlinson wrote a short article called What it Means to Teach Gifted Learners Well which provides a wonderful summary of what quality gifted education is, and is not.  She summarizes the importance of good curriculum and instruction, pacing to match students' individual needs, an appropriate level of difficulty, and supported risk.  (There are many other articles at NAGC that help define the traits of quality gifted education.)

 

It's going to be a great year and I look forward to working with you.

 

Sincerely,