This is my 25th year teaching and my seventh year at Westchester. My teaching includes being a class teacher (early childhood through fourth grade), an adjunct professor at Southern Oregon University (teaching courses in early childhood with a focus on inter and intra-personal relations), and an art, drama, and writing instructor. I ran a non-profit on the West Coast with a podcast through NPR that empowers children through the written word and storytelling called Stories Alive. I also write content and children's entertainment shows and have created work for local communities such as The Center for Puppetry Arts. I love playing outside, writing stories, going on adventures, and being with my family. I have a child, Clara, who will be 27 this year and I am married, to the most incredible man I have ever met! I believe that children learn best through play-based, experiential learning where they can bring their authentic selves into their work. I work to create a classroom that fosters self-empowerment and curiosity.