My Family

I share 2 teenage children with my husband of 21 years. There is nothing I love more than spending time with the three of them...and our dog, Gus.

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My Career 

My career in special education has spanned more than 24 years. I've loved teaching in every area and age level of special education, but my rainbow has definitely been turned upside down more times than I can count. Instead of getting bitter, I decided to get better with each twist and turn. My goal is to help you do the same and remind you that YOU ARE WHAT'S GOOD IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. 

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My WHAT'S GOOD IN SPECIAL EDUCATION story

More than a decade ago, I was teaching resource room in a local high school. A young man entered my room as a transfer student mid-year. It was clear he had been enrolled here prior because some students (and his caseload teacher) already knew him. 

He had dyed jet-black hair, a skull ring, black nail polish, and duct tape on his shirt covering a beer advertisement. He was outgoing and spent his days using his wit and sarcasm trying to get out of doing work. He had a keen sense for negotiation, and he was likeable, but I could see how teachers could get frustrated by the chaos he enjoyed spinning. 

He could control the climate of any classroom.

One day, I could feel my patience coming to an end. He knew, when I asked him to step into the hallway with me, that he was about to get the same old speech that every adult had given him since the beginning of time. 

But I surprised him...and his caseload teacher who had begun to approach us. 

"You have an amazing power and ability.  The students follow your lead," I said.

"Has anyone told you that you're a natural-born leader?" I asked.

He had been prepared to deflect blame with the innocent, carefree smirk he usually flashed. 

"Me?" was his response.

"Why don't you use your power for good?" I suggested.

"We have some younger students in this class and if you could channel that charisma that you have to help me, I'd appreciate it. They look up to you."

"Yah," he said. "I got you."

He did, in fact help more than he disrupted from then on out, but by the following school year, he had transferred to another school. Several years later I ran into him, and he told that me I had been his favorite teacher. 

He knew I truly saw his strengths.

I began to see that by being WHAT'S GOOD IN EDUCATION, we could bring out the best versions of our students and make them WHAT'S GOOD IN EDUCATION.

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