My Story …
Like many of you, my journey in education began nearly two decades ago as I stepped into a cramped first-grade classroom, eager to make a difference. I poured my heart and soul into teaching those 23 young minds. Yet, despite my enthusiasm, I lacked the knowledge I needed to teach them all to read. Without this knowledge, I was limited in the impact I could make.
While some students flourished in their reading skills despite my limitations, others struggled. During my second year of teaching, I had the fortune of meeting Dr. Carol Tolman, co-author of LETRS. Her introduction of LETRS Module 1 (2nd Edition) was a revelation, igniting a curiosity and instilling a healthy dose of urgency to expand my knowledge base. I now realized why I wasn’t reaching some of my students. It was a humbling but important realization.
That moment was a pivotal turn in my professional journey. It fueled my determination to acquire the knowledge and expertise that I, like many educators, had missed in my college years. Over the next few years, I pursued various avenues of professional development, attaining my National Board Certification as an early childhood specialist, obtaining a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction of Reading, and completing the 2nd edition of LETRS (TWICE!). My journey took an interesting turn during that time when our school was asked to serve as a filming site for LETRS 3rd edition. There is nothing quite like teaching all day with a filming crew in your room! People often ask about that filming process, and I tell them the truth: we just did what we had learned in LETRS, and they filmed it. The videos are a very accurate representation of days in my classroom. Shortly after this, I started working as a contractor, training LETRS nationally. This work deepened my understanding and fueled my passion for learning more about reading science. In 2021, I was given the opportunity to further my academic journey when I was accepted into the first cohort to earn a doctorate in Reading Science from Mount St. Joseph University. In May of 2024, I walked across the stage with my fellow literacy warriors, ready to empower teachers with knowledge of the science of reading. As the recipient of the 2024 MSJ Distinguished Student Award, they even let me speak at graduation! You can check that video out here. (listen at the 1:45 min.)
Today, I stand poised to fulfill my passion for bridging the gap between research and practice in education. Inspired by the words of Dr. Pam Kastner, "Teachers deserve to know the science of reading, and students deserve teachers who know it," I am committed to supporting educators in their tireless efforts to nurture the academic success of our children.
Together, let us empower teachers with the tools and insights they need to unlock the full potential of every student, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.
