Born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA, I am the youngest of four daughters. The first person in my entire family to enter a 4-year university, I always knew I wanted to be an educator since I was a young girl. I'd play school in my basement, using the collection of books and educational resources my mother had collected since my sisters were born. I had some of the best teachers anybody could ask for from elementary school through high school. They've been with me throughout my entire journey in Education, some as my closest friends now, and others who continue to keep in touch with my family and me as I continue my journey in Education.
I decided on becoming a Spanish teacher my senior year in high school, and that led me to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I became a Badger. I learned early on the dedication it takes to be a grounded student! I went on to earn my B.A. in Spanish and Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (2001). Two days after my college graduation, I landed my first teaching job in the suburbs of Chicago, in a nearly brand new high school, part of the second largest district in the State of Illinois, outside Chicago Public Schools. This experience kickstarted my career in Education. It was in this role where I was afforded the opportunity to chaperone my first of three student groups abroad, and it was there where I learned just what it meant to become part of a Professional Learning Community with my World Language colleagues in designing common assessments geared toward proficiency in speaking, reading, writing and listening in the target language.
In 2003, I accepted the opportunity to return to Green Bay, and teach among my former teachers as a Middle School & High School Spanish teacher. I taught Spanish levels 1-3 across the district, organized and led another two groups of high school Spanish students abroad to Costa Rica (2005) and Spain (2007), and during this time I met my husband, also a teacher in the District. I entered in to my first Masters program, where I earned a degree in Educational Technology from Marian University (2009). A move to the world of technology integration was in store, as I moved in to the role as Instructional Technology Support Teacher. In this leadership capacity, I supported and led ten of the thirty-six PK-12 District schools in integrating and applying technology into approved curriculum. I served on a variety of tech teams at the District level, including a Virtual Learning Team, and the District Oversight Committee on the Implementation of Technology. I admired my direct supervisor, then Director of Technology for the District, who would become one of my mentors as I continued in my endeavors as a leader in educational technology. I was afforded the opportunities to create training materials, plan and conduct numerous technology workshops in-District and regionally, as well as work with countless groups of teachers, students and school administrators to improve skills related to District-approved technology equipment and tools.
Hungry for another adventure, my husband and I took the plunge in 2011 to test the international education waters. We were hired at a new American international school in Bangkok, Thailand, which would challenge us in more ways we'd ever imagine! As the school's first IT Director and IT Instructor for all students, ages 2 and up, I developed lessons in collaboration with teachers to integrate technology, and work with a team of teachers and the Headmaster to develop the school's first comprehensive Technology Plan. This was one of the richest and most varied experiences of my professional career yet! Six months in to my new role, I challenged myself once again by committing to my second Masters program, this time in Educational Leadership. I worked through the program until we left Bangkok, headed to South America at an established American IB international school in Venezuela.
Having successfully graduated from the American College of Education with a second Masters of Education in Educational Leadership (2013), I was poised for the next set of challenges at Escuela Bella Vista. With over 300 iPads to deploy for a 1:1 program for students in grades 1-5 and an iPad for each classroom teacher, I had my work cut out for me. As the IT Director for the school, I aimed to bring organization to the department, to work with the IT instructors and the technicians to once again formulate the school's first Technology Plan. With the iPads in the hands of the students, and Google Apps in full swing school-wide, I am proud to be part of a hard-working team in a supportive environment where technology is embraced and new challenges provide growth opportunities to improve student learning! I've since returned to Wisconsin, having assumed the role of Curriculum Coordinator for World Languages, and entered in to my first Administrator role as an Associate Principal at a diverse, innovative middle school in the Milwaukee area, home to a dual language academy, an internationally recognized personalized learning academy all encompassed in a comprehensive middle school burgeoning to do 'school' differently. I am now ready to spread my wings for my next adventure and take my leadership to new heights while continuing to learn about myself, the world around me, and build new relationships with those I will meet and serve.
I continually seek out new challenges, professionally and in my personal life. My WHY is "Impact Through Connections" and my core values I aim to balance and practice in both my profession and in my personal life are Integrity and Be Me. When I am not investigating, researching, networking or learning through curiosity, I enjoy an active lifestyle of running, playing soccer on a ladies league, socializing with friends, trying new foods, and traveling the world. A 10-time marathoner, I enjoy setting and reaching goals and creating opportunities for myself. Had I not stepped away from home base in Green Bay, Wisconsin, I doubt I would have had the opportunities of travel, living abroad, experiencing the challenges and adventures of different cultures and worlds or the desire to take on new educational endeavors in my studies and in my professional work. You just never know where life will take you next!
I decided on becoming a Spanish teacher my senior year in high school, and that led me to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I became a Badger. I learned early on the dedication it takes to be a grounded student! I went on to earn my B.A. in Spanish and Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (2001). Two days after my college graduation, I landed my first teaching job in the suburbs of Chicago, in a nearly brand new high school, part of the second largest district in the State of Illinois, outside Chicago Public Schools. This experience kickstarted my career in Education. It was in this role where I was afforded the opportunity to chaperone my first of three student groups abroad, and it was there where I learned just what it meant to become part of a Professional Learning Community with my World Language colleagues in designing common assessments geared toward proficiency in speaking, reading, writing and listening in the target language.
In 2003, I accepted the opportunity to return to Green Bay, and teach among my former teachers as a Middle School & High School Spanish teacher. I taught Spanish levels 1-3 across the district, organized and led another two groups of high school Spanish students abroad to Costa Rica (2005) and Spain (2007), and during this time I met my husband, also a teacher in the District. I entered in to my first Masters program, where I earned a degree in Educational Technology from Marian University (2009). A move to the world of technology integration was in store, as I moved in to the role as Instructional Technology Support Teacher. In this leadership capacity, I supported and led ten of the thirty-six PK-12 District schools in integrating and applying technology into approved curriculum. I served on a variety of tech teams at the District level, including a Virtual Learning Team, and the District Oversight Committee on the Implementation of Technology. I admired my direct supervisor, then Director of Technology for the District, who would become one of my mentors as I continued in my endeavors as a leader in educational technology. I was afforded the opportunities to create training materials, plan and conduct numerous technology workshops in-District and regionally, as well as work with countless groups of teachers, students and school administrators to improve skills related to District-approved technology equipment and tools.
Hungry for another adventure, my husband and I took the plunge in 2011 to test the international education waters. We were hired at a new American international school in Bangkok, Thailand, which would challenge us in more ways we'd ever imagine! As the school's first IT Director and IT Instructor for all students, ages 2 and up, I developed lessons in collaboration with teachers to integrate technology, and work with a team of teachers and the Headmaster to develop the school's first comprehensive Technology Plan. This was one of the richest and most varied experiences of my professional career yet! Six months in to my new role, I challenged myself once again by committing to my second Masters program, this time in Educational Leadership. I worked through the program until we left Bangkok, headed to South America at an established American IB international school in Venezuela.
Having successfully graduated from the American College of Education with a second Masters of Education in Educational Leadership (2013), I was poised for the next set of challenges at Escuela Bella Vista. With over 300 iPads to deploy for a 1:1 program for students in grades 1-5 and an iPad for each classroom teacher, I had my work cut out for me. As the IT Director for the school, I aimed to bring organization to the department, to work with the IT instructors and the technicians to once again formulate the school's first Technology Plan. With the iPads in the hands of the students, and Google Apps in full swing school-wide, I am proud to be part of a hard-working team in a supportive environment where technology is embraced and new challenges provide growth opportunities to improve student learning! I've since returned to Wisconsin, having assumed the role of Curriculum Coordinator for World Languages, and entered in to my first Administrator role as an Associate Principal at a diverse, innovative middle school in the Milwaukee area, home to a dual language academy, an internationally recognized personalized learning academy all encompassed in a comprehensive middle school burgeoning to do 'school' differently. I am now ready to spread my wings for my next adventure and take my leadership to new heights while continuing to learn about myself, the world around me, and build new relationships with those I will meet and serve.
I continually seek out new challenges, professionally and in my personal life. My WHY is "Impact Through Connections" and my core values I aim to balance and practice in both my profession and in my personal life are Integrity and Be Me. When I am not investigating, researching, networking or learning through curiosity, I enjoy an active lifestyle of running, playing soccer on a ladies league, socializing with friends, trying new foods, and traveling the world. A 10-time marathoner, I enjoy setting and reaching goals and creating opportunities for myself. Had I not stepped away from home base in Green Bay, Wisconsin, I doubt I would have had the opportunities of travel, living abroad, experiencing the challenges and adventures of different cultures and worlds or the desire to take on new educational endeavors in my studies and in my professional work. You just never know where life will take you next!
