I am a passionate, dedicated, and reflective educator who continually strives to

improve my knowledge and practice. I have found my place among professionals

who are committed to guiding present and future teachers toward achieving their
greatest potential by seeking new knowledge, collaborating, and pursuing methods
that enhance both teaching and learning. I am motivated to maximize the effect I
am able to produce by earning my doctorate.
Teaching at the elementary level for six years developed and honed my skills,
expanded my knowledge of teaching and learning, and provided an even greater
appreciation of the weight of educators responsibilities. As an elementary
classroom teacher, I served as Professional Development Coordinator and filled a
variety of other professional leadership roles including Curriculum Cabinet, Math
Task Force, and Common Core Implementation Team. I was additionally rewarded for
my commitment to excellence in the classroom by being recognized as a Teacher of
Promise, receiving the Kansas Horizon Award for exemplary first year teachers, and
being identified as a Distinguished Woman by the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce.
During my public school tenure, I was selected to mentor and supervise preservice
teachers from Pittsburg State University. In doing so, I discovered an additional
avenue to increase my impact on teaching. Mentoring these individuals required me
to serve not only as an effective teaching role model, but to also share best
practices implemented in my classroom, provide feedback on their performance,
and set goals to guide their growth.
When I started teaching full-time in the undergraduate Elementary Education
program at Pittsburg State University, I found an opportunity to generate an even
larger scope of influence. Each day I continue to develop my craft and expand my
knowledge so that I can enrich the experience of my students who will, in turn,
enrich the lives of the students in their future classrooms. As I increase my
understanding of the development of elementary students, both as a whole and
individuals, I develop expertise in teacher preparation, so that my efforts to educate
and guide teacher candidates are directed and intentional.
My goals moving forward in my career are driven by my desire to grow
professionally, enhance my knowledge and skills, and increase my impact on not
only the progress of the students currently in my care, but on the teaching
profession as well. My next step as a teacher educator is to earn a doctorate in a
program that supports my research goals, further develops my expertise in teacher
preparation, and increases my opportunities to impact the teaching profession.