Mama, Teacher, Play Advocate

I started working in education in 2010. My first job was a preschool teacher for ages 18-24 months. I ended up teaching all ages, from little new babies, to kindergarten. This started out as just a job…I was working on an acting degree with a focus on children’s theatre. Throughout my time at the preschool, I learned two important things about myself: that I absolutely was meant to be a teacher, and that I had an extreme passion for play and early childhood development. I secured my child development associate for ages 3-5.

Alas, making a living teaching in a private preschool is very difficult. I decided to take my passion into public school in 2013. I spent a glorious year working as an aide in an elementary library. I learned so much about myself and about every child in the school. I also spent this year attaining my teaching degree!

I have also been blessed to nanny for three wonderful families, where I was able to explore teaching through play in a small setting. We planned art projects, science experiments, imaginative and dramatic play-we had new play-based adventures every day!

Now I am a public school kindergarten teacher who believes strongly in developmentally appropriate practices and learning through play. With modern day public education pressures, it isn’t always easy to focus on play. However, I have excellent support from my administration. Through research, practice, and determination, using my background in early childhood development, I am working hard to bring play back into public school kindergarten, even if it’s just in my classroom!

In March I gave birth to my beautiful son. I am so excited to watch him grow, to utilize my knowledge and experience with play to give him the best foundation I can, and to learn from him every day.

I believe that play is powerful and that the best thing we can do for our children and students is to lay a foundation enriched with opportunities for learning through exploration. I see little wonders everywhere, in my students at school and in baby R every single day!