I have spent many dedicated years here at Eanes Elementary School. This is my 19th year here at EES, and I am celebrating my 24th year of teaching. Two years ago I fulfilled a life-long dream to become an art teacher after spending most of my career as a 3rd grade teacher, and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity here at the school I love so much!
I spent my childhood in England when my father flew for NATO, and later we moved to Texas to be near my precious grandparents, who were a wonderful example to me. My father was a wonderful abstract artist, and I know he would have been thrilled to see me teaching art to children today. I had some special memories growing up as a child that have greatly influenced my teaching today. My Cherokee grandmother would spend hours talking to me as a child about anything and everything. I remember she treated me like a friend, and it made me feel special. I try very hard to listen to my students now and make them feel the same way. My parents were both talented, artistic people and that need to create and express myself is a life long pursuit for me. If I worked in an environment where I could not create all the time, I think a part of me would just die. It is essential to my happiness. In a way, the children are my canvas, and every year I am excited to see what we will create together. While pursuing my degree from the University of Texas, I worked with children at the Brown School here in Austin. These children were abused, neglected or emotionally disturbed and had been removed from home and school to receive treatment and care. I was a mental health worker for several years there, and decided that helping children was something very meaningful for me. I was also blessed at the same time to have my student teaching year here at Eanes Elementary....and fell in love with our school! I was nominated for student teacher of the year for UT, which is still a great honor for me. I taught special education in east Austin at Campbell Elementary for several years, and I felt that I was doing remarkable work helping children exit out of the resource class and into mainstream groups. It was sometimes a tough battle, but luckily I am part Irish and a fighter! I also had the great fortune there of writing my first educational grant for enrichment classes and programs that won some national acclaim. Later, Dr. Cory Duty asked me to come back to Eanes to teach the inclusion third grade class here. I taught inclusion for several years, and now I teach regular third grade classes. I have valued and enjoyed the opportunities to express myself, develop many curriculum programs and take all of my zany ideas and try them out on the kids. I appreciate the PTO and the incredible fundraising that allows the teachers to have these experiences with our kids. I look forward to a wonderful year!!
I spent my childhood in England when my father flew for NATO, and later we moved to Texas to be near my precious grandparents, who were a wonderful example to me. My father was a wonderful abstract artist, and I know he would have been thrilled to see me teaching art to children today. I had some special memories growing up as a child that have greatly influenced my teaching today. My Cherokee grandmother would spend hours talking to me as a child about anything and everything. I remember she treated me like a friend, and it made me feel special. I try very hard to listen to my students now and make them feel the same way. My parents were both talented, artistic people and that need to create and express myself is a life long pursuit for me. If I worked in an environment where I could not create all the time, I think a part of me would just die. It is essential to my happiness. In a way, the children are my canvas, and every year I am excited to see what we will create together. While pursuing my degree from the University of Texas, I worked with children at the Brown School here in Austin. These children were abused, neglected or emotionally disturbed and had been removed from home and school to receive treatment and care. I was a mental health worker for several years there, and decided that helping children was something very meaningful for me. I was also blessed at the same time to have my student teaching year here at Eanes Elementary....and fell in love with our school! I was nominated for student teacher of the year for UT, which is still a great honor for me. I taught special education in east Austin at Campbell Elementary for several years, and I felt that I was doing remarkable work helping children exit out of the resource class and into mainstream groups. It was sometimes a tough battle, but luckily I am part Irish and a fighter! I also had the great fortune there of writing my first educational grant for enrichment classes and programs that won some national acclaim. Later, Dr. Cory Duty asked me to come back to Eanes to teach the inclusion third grade class here. I taught inclusion for several years, and now I teach regular third grade classes. I have valued and enjoyed the opportunities to express myself, develop many curriculum programs and take all of my zany ideas and try them out on the kids. I appreciate the PTO and the incredible fundraising that allows the teachers to have these experiences with our kids. I look forward to a wonderful year!!