"I graduated from Hood College in 1992 with a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education. During this time, I co-taught second and third grades with a special education teacher. In the classroom, I often taught my students in small groups. I varied my teaching to match individual learning styles. I started working on my Masters Degree in 1996, while I was teaching third grade. I finished my Masters Degree in Education in 1998, the same year that I had my first child, a daughter, who also has Down Syndrome.

I began working with our local Early Intervention Program as a parent when my daughter was born. During this time, professionally, I was an administrative intern and a reading specialist, working with students in grades PreK through 5th grade who needed additional assistance with learning to read. In 2000, I moved into special education professionally as an Early Intervention Teacher and Service Coordinator. Over the next 17 years I worked with newborn through 5 years old, targeting the individual needs of each of my students. During the last 7 years of my teaching career, I was a special education teacher and case manager in a local Head Start Program, working with children newborn through 5 years of age. My work was individualized to meet the unique and varying needs of my students.

During my teaching career, I developed a deep understanding of diverse learning needs and mastered the techniques needed to create an inclusive environment that fosters growth and learning for all students. Working with small groups and individual students has always been my passion, and I firmly believe that personalized attention can significantly enhance students' educational experiences. I have successfully written and implemented individualized education plans (IEPs) and tailored my teaching methods to address various learning styles, ensuring that each student can thrive academically." less...