Special Education Teacher
I’m an Oklahoma girl! I graduated from Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City, from THE University of Oklahoma with a Bachelors of Science in Special Education and from the University of Central Oklahoma with a MasterÅ› degree in Teaching English Language Learners.
I am certified in multiple areas but my teaching career has been as a special education teacher. My certifications are: Special Education – Mild/Moderate and Severe/Profound disabilities, English Language Arts, World History, Oklahoma History and Economics and Teaching English Language Learners.
I have been to far too many professional development courses over the years to keep count. My favorites have always been those that focus on the inclusion of students with special needs into the general education curriculum. Our students are going to live in the world and they need exposure to their peers and the wider opportunities of the world.
I have been a teacher FOREVER! Seriously, I´ve been teaching for 34+ years and this will be my fifth year at Madill High School. I began my teaching career in Ithaca, New York and then moved to Eatontown, New Jersey. Then, back to my home school district in Putnam City Public Schools. I left teaching for 8 years and worked in the non-profit field. I returned to teaching while living in Charlotte, North Carolina and continued when we moved first to Wichita, Kansas and then, Albuquerque, New Mexio. We returned to Oklahoma and I taught in the Putnam City and Deer Creek school districts before moving to Kingston and the Madill school district. This will be my LAST school district, I´m never leaving!
I think my tenure as an Executive Director of several non profits, running a million dollar budget, managing employees and working with hundreds of community volunteers, gives me a broader world view and that those experiences are benefical to my students. The world of education needs to be adapting to prepare our students for the world of work.
My husband is also a teacher at Madill High School. We are both in the Special Education department. We have three dogs, two grandchildren (Wyatt and Amelia), and an adorable daughter-in-law and a charming son. Family is important. While I grew up in Oklahoma City, I spent every summer since the age of 3 coming to Lake Texoma. We had a house in Little City that we called The Little Red House. Those of you in Little City probably know exactly which one I’m talking about! I always knew that I someday wanted to teach in Madill and live in Marshall County and I’m so fortunate that events worked out to make that happen.
I love to read and always have something that I am reading. When I don’t have a book to read, I might get a little cranky. Mr. Q is also a big reader so it often quiet in the evenings at our house. Although it’s not officially a hobby, in the summer we spend a fair amount of time mowing. At least it seems that way. I grew up coming to Lake Texoma with my family and I’m so grateful to be living here fulltime. We live close to McLaughlin Creek and Cove so we enjoy spending time there. Life is good at the lake!