Experience in Education

I received my bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Brigham Young University. I also minored in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, which earned me the Utah K-12 TESOL endorsement. 

I taught Kindergarten in Provo School District and learned firsthand how wonderful and difficult being a full time teacher can be. Some notable experiences I had while teaching:

• I was my school's Numeracy Coordinator. I was responsible for professional development in math for the teachers in our building, participated in additional math training and conferences myself, and was a part of the district mathematics curriculum adoption. This adoption effort lasted two years and allowed me to observe mathematics instruction across the state. I was appointed as a district K-2 curriculum trainer before I left the district to move to Tooele County.
• I participated on the district Kindergarten committee. We discussed issues specifically related to Kindergarten in the district, including assessment procedures.
• I served as our school's representative for the Provo Education Association, which is the Provo affiliate of the Utah Education Association. Tooele Education Association serves the same function in Tooele County. 

Since my Utah Teaching License was issued, it has always remained current. I have attended workshops and conferences and taken online classes to be eligible for license renewal every 5 years. This has kept me informed about new research and best current practices in the classroom.

When I moved to Tooele County, I took on raising my children as my primary job. However, I have always remained teaching in some capacity. I have taught preschool, taught English online, and tutored elementary students.

In 2020 Tooele Education Foundation asked me to help distribute information and answer questions about the bond proposal on the ballot that fall. Its purpose was to raise money for new schools to alleviate the overcrowding problems in existing schools. In this capacity I worked with school and community leadership all over the county to learn of the problems faced in the schools and possible solutions. I was able to talk with finance experts and ask difficult questions. I spent many hours researching laws, policies, and school district history. I then found ways to present my findings to the public.  

I am currently working as a guest (substitute) teacher in Tooele County School District. It is wonderful to get to know the teachers, staff, and parents in our schools and see their joys and challenges.

One thing I have learned through my experience in education is I can never stop learning! Each student, teacher, and parent has their own story and their own needs. Each interaction I have teaches me something new and helps inform my ideas of what good policy would look like for the district. If elected as a member of the school board, that will continue to be true. I want to use our collective experience to make our schools the best they can be.