About Me: A native of Essex, Vermont, I spent my childhood swimming, drawing, and exploring the local woods. I attended Essex Schools from Kindergarten - 12th Grade. After graduating from UVM with a degree in History and Studio Art, I spent two years teaching in Guyana, South America as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Inspired by my time in Guyana, I worked in international development before obtaining a Master’s in Special Education from UVM. Since 2020, I've been serving as a preschool teacher and early childhood special educator at Essex Elementary School. In addition to my classroom role, I'm also the district Preschool Professional Learning Community (PLC) Leader and a member of our building-based Guiding Coalition leadership team. My preschoolers describe me as a "very silly goose" and say I have "the best dinosaurs,” a compliment that is not taken lightly. I'm fortunate to work with amazing children and dedicated colleagues. Here are some **very important** things to know about me:  

• Favorite Color: RAINBOW (I love all the colors!) 

• Favorite Food: Blueberries 

• Favorite Book: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

• Favorite Candy: Jelly Beans

• Favorite Creemee: Maple (with maple crumblies)

• Favorite Place: Lake Willoughby - Westmore, Vermont

• Favorite things to do: music, photography, painting, traveling, gardening, being outdoors, and reading (i.e. napping) in hammocks!
  

About our Classroom: Our preschool day includes a variety of structured and child-led activities, guided by the Vermont Early Learning Standards. We come together every day to meet, sing songs, read books, and explore activities and the world around us. Weather pending, we go outside every day. We have a holistic approach to preschool, in that our collective work focuses on all aspects of a child's life across developmental domains (adaptive, social-emotional, language and communication, gross and fine motor, early academic skills, and beyond). Learning is integrated into everything we do, including play, a vital component for learners of all ages. Our learning centers on:

• Developing social-emotional and self-regulation skills

• Practicing how to effectively communicate needs and wants using a range of modalities (verbal, sign language, gestures, AAC, and more)

• Building age-appropriate independent life skills

• Fostering self-confidence and early academic skills

• Creating a learning community built on kindness, inclusion, and growth