“I became a mom at the end of my junior year in high school. I knew that education would be how I would support my daughter.
I think having counselors and teachers who helped me balance my classes and provided work-study opportunities allowed me to still participate in extracurricular activities, such as the Upward Bound Program. The program helped prepare me for college through courses, ACT prep and educational experiences outside of my small hometown. That experience helped drive me to come to MSU and be an educator.
I have worked for SPS since 2010. I taught kindergarten at Mark Twain for 10 years and then had an opportunity to loop with my class to first grade early on in the pandemic.
When I was a teacher, I was given many opportunities to be a teacher leader at the building level and the district level. Getting to collaborate with other educators to write curricula and the ability to facilitate learning for teachers really drove my passion to support teachers and want to become an administrator. I appreciate those opportunities because they allowed me to see my passion for administration and built my capacity. In 2021, I accepted the role of school community liaison at Jeffries. This year, they shifted that role to assistant principal.
Along the way, extracurriculars and people investing in me made a huge impact on me to help me be where I am today. While ensuring all students are learning at high levels, it’s also vital that we provide students with extracurricular activities that foster and grow their passions. It’s vital that we support students, teachers, administrators, for who they are, whatever they need. Our work changes lives and changes families.
I’m working my dream job, and it’s only possible because someone decided when I was pregnant in high school, I could still participate in Upward Bound. I was encouraged that I could still go to college. I’m so proud of myself, my daughter and my career. I’m so proud of my journey to this point, and I’m excited to see what’s next.”
