I am a graduate of Bradley University. I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education with a focus on Science, as well as endorsements in Middle School, Language Arts, Social Studies, and General Education, Kindergarten-9th Grade. Prior to teaching, I worked in the Social Services field as a Family Parnerships Coordinator where I planned and implemented parent/child engagement workshops and activities for families who had children from birth to 3 years of age. I also trained and tutored low-income families in self-sufficiency and life skills. Working so closely with families in their homes gave me a clear picture of the hardships and difficulties many of them face, especially as it relates to education. Parent involvement is key to a child's academic success however a parent who is worried about where their next meal is coming from, or who has no running water is more concerned about meeting those needs rather than visiting their child's teacher or helping with homework. With this in mind, I began teaching, determined to partner with these families in such a way as to direct them to community resources to help their entire family along with providing a quality education for their children. This tactic served to improve parent involvement in the classroom and the school as a whole. I am a firm believer that quality education leads to a much better quality of life. Involved parents have students who take their education seriously and ensures their academic success. Although I have taught a range of topics, I am more excited about English Language Arts and Social Studies. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, walking, rollerskating, and attending and coaching sports. I even have experience as a personal trainer for track.