Bio:
I grew up in a tight-knit family that constantly contributed to and believed in Catholic Education. I’ve worked within a Catholic school setting since the age of 19, and would not change it for the world. I love being around children and watching them learn new things each and every day. For the past thirteen years I’ve taught at the Academy of the Blessed Sacrament in Franklin Lakes. In that role, I worked closely with the students, families and faculty to promote spiritual growth, constant academic success and moral development. During my tenure, I taught students in grades PreK-8 in all subjects, with a focus on Reading-Literature, Language Arts, Religion and Technology in grades 4-8.
I’m passionate about working with teachers to continually become better for their students and to keep up to speed in this technologically advanced society. I have an Ed.S in Education Leadership, Management and Policy and an M.S. in Education (Seton Hall University) as well as a B.A. in Psychology (Focus on Children and Adolescents) from Ramapo College. I’m currently pursuing an Ed.D. in K-12 Educational Administration.
Hometown:
Carlstadt, New Jersey
I like working at the Academy because…
The minute I walked in the front doors of OLMC, I felt the sense of belonging, faith and tradition.
Teaching philosophy:
I believe each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring and stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and mature intellectually and socially. It is my desire as an educator to help students grow to their fullest potential by providing a safe environment that invites a sharing of ideas. Understanding the diversity of learning styles and student experiences is key when engaging students. The process of stimulating student involvement in learning is unique to each individual. Ultimately, students must be responsible for their own learning, but as the teacher, I can inspire their desire to learn and act as facilitator to instill a love of learning. Developing a curriculum around student interests fosters motivation and stimulates their passion for learning.
I believe students work best through interaction with others and that learning increases when the learner is engaged in activities that have personal meaning. I am also a strong believer in a classroom environment that reinforces learning, rewards acceptable behavior, and inspires an ongoing love of learning. Through positive reinforcement, students will behave well toward one another, listen, and participate. This can be accomplished by an array of things such as: demonstrating a positive attitude, encouraging students to learn by interacting with one another and encouraging student discussion. For myself, teaching provides an opportunity for continual learning and growth. One of my hopes as an educator is to instill a love of learning in my students, as I share my own passion of learning with them.
Fun fact:
My sister and I are both Catholic school principals.
When I’m not at the Academy, you’ll most likely find me:
Enjoying time with family and friends, relaxing while reading a good book, or working on my Seton Hall dissertation.
Ask me about:
My family, my favorite books, or why I love being in a school every single day.
Personal motto:
“Use your smile to change the world, don’t let the world change your smile.”
