Welcome to 5th grade! I am so excited to be returning to SBE and starting out my 6th year in 5th grade. I graduated from Georgia Southwestern State University with a Bachelors, Masters, and Specialist degree in Early Childhood Education. I began my career in Cordele, GA where I was raised (my accent will confirm). Since then, I have taught at SBE and at Riddle Elementary in Dallas, Texas. I recently got married, and we will be moving back to Cumming. I am so excited for this year, and can't wait to learn and grow together! 

I knew at a young age that I wanted to be a teacher and help change the lives of young children. Teaching is my life and I love coming to work each morning knowing I am going to help students ignite their flame for learning.

I was born and raised in the great state of Texas and graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a specialization in Reading from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. In the years of teaching, I have taught 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th grades.

I am married to my high school sweetheart, Travis and we are blessed to have a wonderful daughter named Emma and a German Shepherd named Piper. I look forward to this fantastic year of fun and adventures in learning! 

I am thrilled to be joining the 5th grade team and Settles Bridge family. Previous to joining SBE, I worked at Big Creek Elementary, in Forsyth County as a Special Education paraprofessional. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, going to Braves games, and spending time with my two nephews. I look forward to a wonderful school year, and I cannot wait to watch the students grow!

It sure is great to be a Settles Bridge Star! I am thrilled to start my eighth year teaching. I have taught 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade. I earned my undergraduate degree in Early Childhood/Special Education from the University of North Georgia. I also have my master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and my specialist degree in Curriculum and instruction from Piedmont. I have my gifted, reading, and ESOL endorsements. In my free time I love spending time with my husband, Jordan and son, Spencer. I strive to ignite the flame of learning in my students and help every student believe they can do anything they set their mind to! I absolutely love teaching, and I can’t wait to welcome an amazing group of stars into my classroom!

This is my 13th year at SBE, and I am excited to continue working on the fifth grade team. Previously I taught at Chestatee for 10 years, and middle school in California before moving to Georgia. I earned a Bachelors of Science in Child and Adolescent Development as well as teaching certification from California State University, Fullerton. I achieved my Masters degree in Early Childhood Education, Specialist degree in Teacher Leadership, and Leadership endorsement/credentials from North Georgia University, where I also taught Masters level Reading Endorsement courses for 4 years. I earned a PhD in Educational Policy Analysis from GA State and am also endorsed in Reading, ESOL, Teacher Support Specialist, Online Teaching, Teacher Leadership, Gifted, and Special Education. I believe we are all learners throughout our lives and a love of learning is one of the greatest gifts we can share with our students/children.

I started my teaching career in Forsyth County in 1996, and I'm just as passionate about it today as I was the first year. I feel fortunate to have gained all of my teaching experience in such a top notch, progressive educational system. I am a firm believer in teaching the whole child and forming relationships with my students so that I am able to help them grow to their fullest potential.

After graduating from KSU in 1995, I began teaching at Daves Creek Elementary and have been at Settles Bridge since 1999, our school's inaugural year. I have taught both 4th and 5th grades during my time as an educator, and I have my gifted education certification as well as over two decades of experience with co-teaching.  I love seeing the growth in kids as they transition from elementary to middle school students, and working with kids to prepare  them for this big change brings my joy.

In my personal life, I am the mother of two adult kids, a daughter who is 21 and son who is 19. They are SBE, RMS, and LHS alumni, so I've experienced our amazing school system both as a teacher and parent. I live in our wonderful community with my husband of 27 years.

I am looking forward to another great year at SBE!

I am ecstatic to continue teaching fifth grade at Settles Bridge Elementary! I earned my Bachelors and M.Ed in Elementary Education from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) where I had the privilege to tap into my love of mindful educational practices in a variety of learning environments. I believe fifth graders are some of the best people and I’m thankful that I get to spend my time with phenomenal students every day. When I am not at school, I’m usually cheering on the Atlanta Braves, adding to my indoor plant collection, or whipping up some new coffee drinks. I cannot wait for a stupendous year of growth and learning. It may not be easy, but I love encouraging my students to push their limits. There’s no greater joy than seeing students persevere and shoot for the moon!