I first came to know Haddonfield Friends School when my children, Evan and Madeline, spent their early years here. It is a privilege to join the HFS community as a teacher. I am particularly interested in helping students understand that their words have the power to capture and convey beauty, call attention to injustice, and create change. I want them to read critically, expansively, and voraciously. I want them to fall in love with poetry and discover that there are poems-in-waiting everywhere they look. I want them to approach informational text expecting to be surprised by something and to question bias, the author’s and their own. Whether as a writer or an historian, I urge students to pay attention to and be curious about the wonders of the world and those who inhabit it. 

I cherish spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy hiking, cooking, traveling, reading, and hanging out on my back porch with my dogs. I love trees, cool rocks, art, and dark chocolate.

• Cherry Hill Public Schools: Middle school English Language Arts teacher, Literacy Coach, Reading Specialist, Classroom teacher, grades 1 and 2
• Merchantville School District: Grade 3
• Camden County Community College: English Composition, Reading and Writing Academic Skills

• The Barnes Foundation, School Group Guide
• Geraldine Dodge Fellow with Green Belt Movement, Kenya
• Grounds for Sculpture, Museum Educator

• Rowan University: M.A. Reading Instruction, Reading Specialist Certificate
• Gettysburg College: B.A. English Literature
• The College of New Jersey: Elementary Education Certificate
• Drexel University: Wilson Reading Certificate
• Teachers College, Columbia University: Reading and Writing Institute
• University of Pennsylvania: Penn Literacy Network 

I love teaching math and science at HFS.  I find the two disciplines are interwoven and expose my students to their similarities and connections to the real world.  I inherited the love of science and math from both of my parents. My father, who is a physician, taught me the love of science and my mother, an English and History professor, taught me the passion for teaching. It’s a win-win to me. After taking studies in a Doctorate of Pharmacy program, I knew that I wanted to share my passion/love of these subject areas by teaching and inspiring young minds to these disciplines. My ultimate reward is seeing my graduated HFS students come back to visit and express how I ignited their fire/flame to pursue degrees in the areas of math, science, as well as engineering.

I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends, which includes cooking, exercising, and traveling. I enjoy spending my summers down the shore in Margate, NJ where I spend Zen time with my family and my Corgi dog, Skip. I absolutely love the Jersey shore; nothing compares to sitting on the beach and soaking up the salt air and tranquility of the ocean. My other favorite hobby/interest is fashion…I love being a personal shopper, especially for my nieces who I dress from head to toe. I’m also a lover of the arts and theater.  Any activity that involves helping and spending quality time with others, especially children and animals, is a reward in itself!

• Haddonfield Friends School, 2008 to present
• Kingston Elementary School, long-term substitute
• A. Russell Knight Elementary School, long-term substitute

• ESL Certification
• Minors in Italian Studies, Women’s Studies, Religion, and Science
• Tutor for Italian Studies and Mathematics for children and adults
• Real Estate Licensing

• Rutgers University: Teachers Preparation Program/Certification
• University of the Sciences: Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Marketing Program
• Rosemont College: B.A. Humanities

I am so happy to join the Haddonfield Friends School community and cannot wait to work with this talented group of middle schoolers. Together, we will make history come alive by connecting the present to the past. As living historians, we will create podcasts, blogs, mini-documentaries, digital narratives, and graphic novels to tell our stories and to inform others about important topics. As a humanities teacher, it is my goal to help students think critically, refine their research ability, and develop their analytical/creative writing skills. 

My family recently moved back to the Philadelphia area after living in Houston for 15 years. This is my first time living in New Jersey, and I love it. On the weekends, I enjoy exploring historical sites and hiking through nature trails with my husband and children. I am a drama enthusiast and love singing along to Hamilton with my daughters. I also love creating art projects, reading and writing stories, playing with our dogs, and watching Godzilla movies with my son.

I moved around a lot as a child and went to high school in Singapore, so I value learning about and celebrating different cultures. My classroom is a place where all voices are welcomed and included.

• WAVE Gifted and Talented Magnet School in Clear Creek ISD, League City, TX: English
  language arts lead teacher and humanities teacher, grades 6-8
• Pearland ISD, English language arts teacher, grade 6
• San Jacinto Community College, Composition 1 and College Prep writing teacher
• Baltimore County Public Schools, English language arts teacher, grades 6 and 8
• Springfield School District, Springfield, PA, English and journalism teacher, grades 9-12

• Progressive Business Publications, assistant editor
• The North Syracuse Star-News, reporter
• Girl Scout troop leader
• PTA parliamentarian

• University of Pennsylvania: M.S. in English education
• Syracuse University: B.A. in Magazine Journalism and English (dual degree)

As an educator, I have great passion for lifelong learning and a determination to ensure that my students perform to the best of their ability. To engage and to involve greater participation in my lessons, I incorporate various teaching strategies such as collaborative work, projects and presentations. I believe students learn best when learning experiences are hands-on, experiential and meaningful to them. 

During my free time, I enjoy exploring new places of interest, traveling and hiking with my husband and daughter. In addition, I enjoy quilting, beading and doing Folk Art.

• Revo Academy:  School for the Gifted Education, Thousand Oaks, California, Homeroom Teacher (Grade 4/5), 2016
• Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School, Singapore, Lead Teacher/Form Teacher (Grade 1 – 6), 17 years
• Additional Roles: Subject Head for Social Studies, Health Education Coordinator, Grade 5 Level Manager, Chief Editor, Camp Commandant, CCA Teacher, Professional Learning Teams Project Coordinator.

• CA Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential.
• University of Michigan (Ann Arbor): MA in Educational Studies on Curriculum Development and Evaluation, Certificate in Teaching ESL Internationally.
• Open University, Milton Keyes, UK: BA in English Language and Literature.
• Nanyang Technological University, Singapore: Diploma in Education specializing in English Language, Singapore Math and Social Studies.

After graduating college, I completed my student teaching in Melbourne, Australia as a part of my Masters’ coursework. I enjoyed the experience so much, I decided to teach abroad for several years, living in both China and Singapore. I learned new languages, new sports and traveled extensively, developing a better understanding of other cultures and the world around me, while making new friends in the process. I now consider many places “home”. After several years abroad, I returned to the States to go back to school. Since moving back, I’ve lived in NYC and CT, and recently returned to NJ, where I grew up, to be closer to family.

In my spare time, I love to read, explore new places and spend time with family, including my son, who keeps me busy.

• Whitby School, Greenwich, CT: Grades 5-7 English
• Say Yes to Education, NYC: Small group instructor, Grades 4 and 5
• Canadian International School in Singapore: Elementary teacher, Grade 3
• American International School of Guangzhou, China: Elementary teacher, Grades 3 and 4

• International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program Coordinator
• International Baccalaureate Educator Network Site Visitor
• International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program Senior Reviewer for Building Quality Curriculum
• Curriculum and Grade level team leader
• International Student Advisor for graduate programs, Kaplan International

• Teachers College, Columbia University: Ed.M. International Educational Development, Educational Policy focus
• George Mason University: M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction
• James Madison University: B.S. Communication Sciences and Disorders