"It was tough as a new teacher to know what my priorities were, and how to best teach them. I basically followed what my fellow teachers did. Today we have training and specific curriculum to help new teachers."

 

2) What is the best part of teaching?

"The kids and my co-workers. The funny things kids say and do make each day unique, and working with a group of people who have a common goal of helping kids succeed is very rewarding. The reason I've stayed so long comes down to the great kids, parents, and teachers in Park City. There was always a younger sibling coming up I wanted to teach, or a teacher I wanted to work with!"

 

3) You've been awarded many PCEF grants over the years. Which is your favorite?

"My current favorite is the Ecker Hill Mentoring Program, which is in it's second year. We meet twice a month to help kids with grades, and to help Latino parents navigate things like Powerschool and Canvas. The grant allows me to do things with the kids that we would not otherwise be able to do, like community service projects or cooking breakfast with the kids for our meetings. Doing things outside of the typical classroom setting helps these kid feel valued and makes them feel like part of the broader community."