"Hello, my name is Zabel (ZAH-bell) and I am an educator by force, both as the mother of 6 children and by professional choice. The age grades of my children span from college to third grade. As you might imagine, I have spent a lot of time doing homework with my children! In addition, I am fortunate to have worked in public schools for 3 years as a full-time music teacher before creating my own family and becoming a stay-at-home mom. It enhances my tutoring experience to have understanding of the inner workings of a family, as well as the expectations of a school site.

Along the path of becoming a professional teacher, I have been consistently reminded of the joy I find in facilitating learning in children and young people. I am number 8 of ten children and grew up interacting with and caring for younger nieces and nephews. This experience translated well into becoming a mother. I have found it necessary to home school my own children during COVID-19 and on those rare occasions when my child needed extra attention that they could not receive in a classroom full of students. I am not afraid to jump into a curriculum after teaching my own children on a daily basis.

I recently returned to work within Cherry Creek School District as a floating-guest employee, which means I teach in classrooms while teachers attend IEP/504 meetings for one of their students. In this position I have worked with all the elementary grade levels, K-5, teaching whichever subject their teacher needed me to teach, and which often translates into being versed in the curriculum for K-5 reading, writing and math.

I really care that children know that they are capable to learn anything that is required of them. I try to constantly verbalize this concept of a growth mindset with my students. Most importantly, interacting with young people is truly a passion for me. I want them all to know that they are capable of doing hard things. I look forward to the opportunity of serving you and your student!" less...