This school year [2019 - 2020] will mark my twelfth as a Selwyn teacher. I first came to Selwyn as parent and feel privileged to get to spend each day in a place that has held such a big place in my heart for so many years. It's an added joy that the children and families of Selwyn are the neighbors and friends my family and I bump into when shopping, playing, dining, or walking in our lovely community
I have been teaching in CMS for twenty-two years, but am particularly excited to be spending the coming year with this group of first graders (first grade is my absolute favorite, although I have also taught second and third). My career has spanned a variety of educational settings - with each teaching me a great deal about differentiating instruction, the importance of supporting character development as well as curriculum mastery, and the joy of laying a strong foundation for my students as lifelong learners.
My preparation as an educator began at Virginia Tech. Years later, I went back to complete my degree in Elementary Education at UNCC. Beyond my licensure requirements, I've pursued professional development in the areas of addressing differing learning styles, writing, curriculum integration, character education, educational leadership, and implicit bias. In 2010 I became a National Board Certified teacher. I am also a member of the 2011 class of the Teaching Fellows Institute and continue to serve as their Alumni Council president. It was an honor to be selected to represent CMS as the system's 2014 Teacher of the Year. During the summer of 2015 I served as a TFA Kern School Leader Fellow. For the past four years I have worked to grow professionally through fellowships with the Charlotte Teacher Institute. In April of 2018 I was one of 24 CMS educators selected to participate in the grand opening of EJI's Legacy Museum and the Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, and this past summer I accompanied another CMS group on an expanded civil rights/racial equity tour of the South.
My childhood was spent in Lansing, Michigan and Pierre, South Dakota. Our family moved to northern Virginia (Washington D.C. metropolitan area) just prior to my senior year in high school. My parents, brother, two sisters - and all their families - remain in that area to this day. While I miss them all and hate the distance, I have been thrilled to call Charlotte my home for the past 30 plus years.
I really love what I get to do at school each day, but my biggest joy in life is my family. After 33 (!) years of a too busy, tad crazy, somewhat loud, and determinedly fun household filled with kids, we are experiencing the calm and quiet of our "empty nest." My husband, Steve, is a native Charlottean and works for WCCB as a sales executive. Our son Kohl (32) lives in the Plaza-Midwood area and is preparing for work in the technology sector. His free time is spent being a life-long learner - reading books, listening to podcasts and experiencing new things. Our daughter, Mauryn (27) lives in Kings Mountain and works as an art teacher a Kennedy Middle School here in CMS. She just got married last spring to an amazing young man, B.T., that she's known since third grade. Our youngest son, Zane (18), graduated from Myers Park High School in June and is now at N.C. State studying Industrial Engineering. In his free time he enjoys ice hockey, State and Panthers football games, and travel to anywhere he can get to (This past summer that included the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and Tanzania). Left to complete our now quiet household are our cat, Bella, and our King Charles Cavalier, Boone.
Away from school, when not doing my own teacher “homework," I enjoy reading, lingering over casual meals and conversation with family and friends, movies, walking the dog around the neighborhood, and (theoretically, at least) naps!
I look forward to meeting you and the opportunity for us to become a part of one another's stories in the coming year!
I have been teaching in CMS for twenty-two years, but am particularly excited to be spending the coming year with this group of first graders (first grade is my absolute favorite, although I have also taught second and third). My career has spanned a variety of educational settings - with each teaching me a great deal about differentiating instruction, the importance of supporting character development as well as curriculum mastery, and the joy of laying a strong foundation for my students as lifelong learners.
My preparation as an educator began at Virginia Tech. Years later, I went back to complete my degree in Elementary Education at UNCC. Beyond my licensure requirements, I've pursued professional development in the areas of addressing differing learning styles, writing, curriculum integration, character education, educational leadership, and implicit bias. In 2010 I became a National Board Certified teacher. I am also a member of the 2011 class of the Teaching Fellows Institute and continue to serve as their Alumni Council president. It was an honor to be selected to represent CMS as the system's 2014 Teacher of the Year. During the summer of 2015 I served as a TFA Kern School Leader Fellow. For the past four years I have worked to grow professionally through fellowships with the Charlotte Teacher Institute. In April of 2018 I was one of 24 CMS educators selected to participate in the grand opening of EJI's Legacy Museum and the Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, and this past summer I accompanied another CMS group on an expanded civil rights/racial equity tour of the South.
My childhood was spent in Lansing, Michigan and Pierre, South Dakota. Our family moved to northern Virginia (Washington D.C. metropolitan area) just prior to my senior year in high school. My parents, brother, two sisters - and all their families - remain in that area to this day. While I miss them all and hate the distance, I have been thrilled to call Charlotte my home for the past 30 plus years.
I really love what I get to do at school each day, but my biggest joy in life is my family. After 33 (!) years of a too busy, tad crazy, somewhat loud, and determinedly fun household filled with kids, we are experiencing the calm and quiet of our "empty nest." My husband, Steve, is a native Charlottean and works for WCCB as a sales executive. Our son Kohl (32) lives in the Plaza-Midwood area and is preparing for work in the technology sector. His free time is spent being a life-long learner - reading books, listening to podcasts and experiencing new things. Our daughter, Mauryn (27) lives in Kings Mountain and works as an art teacher a Kennedy Middle School here in CMS. She just got married last spring to an amazing young man, B.T., that she's known since third grade. Our youngest son, Zane (18), graduated from Myers Park High School in June and is now at N.C. State studying Industrial Engineering. In his free time he enjoys ice hockey, State and Panthers football games, and travel to anywhere he can get to (This past summer that included the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and Tanzania). Left to complete our now quiet household are our cat, Bella, and our King Charles Cavalier, Boone.
Away from school, when not doing my own teacher “homework," I enjoy reading, lingering over casual meals and conversation with family and friends, movies, walking the dog around the neighborhood, and (theoretically, at least) naps!
I look forward to meeting you and the opportunity for us to become a part of one another's stories in the coming year!
My fun and crazy clan:
Kohl (our home grown renaissance man), moi,
Steve/Mr. Shockley (going to heaven, for sure, for all he cheerfully puts up with), Zane (Go Pack - & Panthers, & Hurricanes, & . . .!),
Mauryn Greer (art teacher extraordinaire), and B.T. (our so-glad-to-finally-have-him-as-part-of-the-clan-son-in-law!),
Kohl (our home grown renaissance man), moi,
Steve/Mr. Shockley (going to heaven, for sure, for all he cheerfully puts up with), Zane (Go Pack - & Panthers, & Hurricanes, & . . .!),
Mauryn Greer (art teacher extraordinaire), and B.T. (our so-glad-to-finally-have-him-as-part-of-the-clan-son-in-law!),