What are your hobbies outside of school?
My favorite hobbies outside of school are running, gardening, reading, and listening to audiobooks (listening to audiobooks allows me to experience new literature while completing any of my other hobbies), as well as going to watch my children play sports.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
One thing that I think many people might not know about me is my passion for hunting and fishing. I particularly enjoy archery season, but my absolute favorite is Turkey Season; there’s truly nothing like the sound of a “Thunder Chicken” on the roost! I suppose these could be considered hobbies, although I wish I had more time to dedicate to them.
If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be and why?
If I could meet anyone, living or dead, I would choose Ruth or Esther from the Bible. I would like to think that I am, or at least aspire to be, a woman of strength; they are definitely women who embody strength and courage. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, too!
What is your favorite band – or – who is your favorite singer?
My favorite singer right now is Zach Williams, and my favorite band is the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
What is your favorite song of all time?
My favorite song is ‘Fast Car’ by Luke Combs.
What is your favorite place to eat?
My favorite place to eat is Fire and Ice in Shavertown.
What is the most unique place you’ve ever visited? Why?
The most unique place I have ever visited is Catania, Italy. The people and culture are rich and welcoming, making you never want to leave; plus, they eat pizza every day!
Do you have any pets? If so, what are they?
I have a crazy Mini Australian Shepherd named Cooper, who is 8 years old.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is people who are intentionally hurtful towards others and those who drive “BELOW” the speed limit without a reason.
What inspired you to become an English teacher?
What inspired me to become an English teacher is my love of literature and writing. I believe that you can unlock everything in this world through perspective; reading literature helps you realize each author’s viewpoint. I also enjoy analyzing things and people for deeper meaning. If you are an effective communicator and writer, then there are no bounds to what you can accomplish in life. I wanted to share this with my students to help them become successful, understanding individuals, which is why becoming an English teacher made perfect sense.
What do you like most about teaching?
What I like most about being a teacher is seeing my students accomplish tasks they did not think they were capable of achieving. Many students believe that they are not good at English; well, that’s fiction! I also love when my students realize that they “can” complete the difficult writing assignments they thought they were incapable of, or when they understand that a certain piece of literature is all about perspective, allowing them to relate to it.
What is your biggest piece of advice for students?
The biggest piece of advice I could give my students is: Don’t take life too seriously. Don’t be afraid to reach for your dreams, because you are only limited in life by yourself! Remember, mistakes are opportunities to grow. Also, be KIND!
How long have you been teaching?
I have been a teacher for most of my life in one way or another. I believe some people are born to do certain things, and teaching is what I feel I was always meant to do. However, a direct answer to that question is that I have been a teacher for over 15 years, but this is my second year teaching full-time.
