I love Headwaters School because it embodies the Montessori principles of peace through education and communication, along with meeting the needs of each individual child through the concept of “following the child.” I am continually inspired by the passionate work of my colleagues and the eagerness of the children to learn. As a teacher in the Upper Elementary, I strive to inspire the children with surprising and engaging lessons that tap into their insatiable curiosity for new knowledge. In order to explore their world and their relationships with each other, I aim to create a nurturing, caring classroom community, in which the students can feel comfortable to be themselves and discover their own success.
I became inspired to pursue teaching as a career after working for a year in Chambery, France as an English teacher to elementary-aged children. Upon my return home to Tucson, AZ, I discovered the Montessori philosophy of education and was a Montessori middle school teacher for several years at Khalsa Montessori School in Tucson, AZ. I joined Headwaters School after moving to Austin in 2011, working first as a substitute teacher, then as a support guide on the Springs campus. Since 2013, I have taught Upper Elementary as a lead guide.
I have a Bachelors of Arts degree in English and French from the University of Arizona and a Masters of Education (with a specialization in Montessori) from Xavier University. I hold an Elementary I/II Certificate (ages 6-12) from Montessori Education Teacher Training Collaborative (METTC) in Lexington, MA. I also hold a Secondary I/II Certificate (ages 12-18) from Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program (CMSTEP) in Cincinnati, OH.
I spent my elementary school years in Milford, NH before moving to Tucson, AZ, which I now consider my hometown. I’ve also lived in Chennai, India; Guadalajara, Mexico; and Chambery, France. I enjoy traveling and experiencing the diversity of foreign cultures. My other hobbies include scuba diving, yoga, bicycling, sewing, cooking, and dancing.