Occupation:
Ever since I started teaching I have been committed and passionate about child and student advocacy, maximizing individual performance and growth, and instilling a sense of self-worth amongst all students. I have worked in education for over 10 years in a New York City public school that values the benefits of art and music education, which continues to support creative and critical thinking skills for our students.  I taught second grade in a title one school for 7 years. Many of the children were from low-income households. I taught a variety of learning needs throughout my 7 years while effectively providing differentiated instruction. I taught English Language Learners “Top” performing individuals, and students with an Individual Education Plan (Program). My extensive training and expertise allowed me to present and modify lessons in a comprehensive manner to facilitate learning for all students. I also had to design and implement enrichment materials for students above level across curriculums. I hold a Master’s Degree in Literacy and I am certified to offer reading remediation to at risk students. I taught “before school” and “after school” academic intervention in mathematics and literacy. I have successfully improved the reading levels of all my students throughout my entire career. Some students have reached above level reading success. For two years I embraced the role as Grade Leader and took on the responsibility of facilitating teaching and instruction while promoting collaboration for all 5 classes which encompassed a minimum of 125 students and 7 teachers. I ensured school-wide practices were applied by each class on our grade. I successfully created Literacy Curriculum Maps on a monthly basis for Reading and Writing for the entire grade. The curriculum maps included each individual lesson for the monthly unit, standards addressed, goals and objectives, essential questions, higher order thinking questions, texts and materials used to facilitate learning, and modifications for different learning needs including enrichment.  My role as Grade Leader also required me to report to my administration which allowed me to become a key member of the instructional leadership team.

Qualifications:
I graduated magna cum laude from Saint Joseph’s College (University as of 2022). I obtained my B.A. in Child Study with a minor is Psychology. I received 4 degrees and certifications which are Early Childhood (birth-second grade), Childhood (first-sixth grade), Students with disabilities: Early Childhood (birth to second grade), and Students with disabilities: Childhood (first-sixth grade). I received my master’s degree and certification in Literacy from Touro College and this certification and license allows me to provide effective literacy instruction to diverse populations of children.

Prior to obtaining my degrees and certification, as a teen I worked for the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council (GRYC) in Queens, NY. The GRYC is a non-profit organization that provides a variety of programs for our youth. They focus on education, counseling, truancy prevention, and job preparation. They also offer job opportunities for adolescents and their families. This organization serves over 3200 youth and families every day. I started as a group leader at 16 years old and was promoted to Activity Specialist. I created 2 classes for the afterschool program which were art and music. I facilitated activities with a limited budget. I had to prioritize needs over wants and what would be needed for students to obtain the benefits of these classes. I oversaw student enrollment and materials needed. I created a plan to strategize ways to utilize the budget. We created fundraising events led by the students to raise money. We found solutions on how to utilize resources we already possessed, and students would create and design costumes or projects by being resourceful. By utilizing these strategies, it allowed me to use the limited budget on items needed. It taught students that there are several paths to take when approaching obstacles. Students were immersed in community engagement and collaboration, and it enhanced their pride in their own accomplishments. The GRYC was committed to offering programs to help children and adults explore safe avenues to improve their quality of life. Once I obtained my degree in education, I started teaching immediately and began my studies for my master’s degree. I then pursued a career in Real Estate because of scheduling flexibility.  I was part time administrative assistant when needed but focused primarily on being a licensed Real Estate Agent that fostered collaboration with the community.

Personal:  
My husband, Chris, and I have lived in Glen Head for 10 years. We moved here because of the district’s reputation. It was very important to us to find a welcoming community with high performing schools. As an educator myself, it was imperative to find a district that would foster learning and development. North Shore exhibited a clear and shared focus, high standards and expectations of all students, effective leadership, and a supporting learning environment.

We have 3 children ages 7,6 and 2.5. My children enjoy all of the activities that North Shore has to offer, particularly the sports programs. We believe sports and athletics are crucial for child development. Studies show that sport has shown psychological benefits for children and adolescents. It also provides our youth with important life skills while promoting social and emotional benefits. We attended our first Viking Homecoming in the fall to celebrate our students, faculty, and alumni. Pride was exuding from everyone in attendance. This is such an important event for our youth and families to feel connected, united, and to support our community and district. My husband and I both played sports as children. I played on a basketball team in elementary school. My husband played hockey and basketball up until high school. My boys started playing soccer for the North Shore Soccer Club at 2 years old. They are currently on the travel soccer teams for their age division. My boys will begin their 2nd year of baseball with the Glenwood-Glen Head Baseball League and are ecstatic for opening day! My older son played Lacrosse with North Shore, and also played Ice Hockey with LI Sports Hub. We are on the fields 5-6 days a week. When we aren’t practicing or attending games, we spend time with our families and friends, visiting new places, attending and supporting Glenwood Landing SCA events and community events when possible, and supporting local shops and restaurants. I am currently Class Parent for my son’s class and I enjoy being able to connect with educators and students in our community. I collaborate with parents and teachers to organize special events for our parents to be involved in their child’s educational experience.

Statement:  
I am excited to announce my candidacy for Trustee of the North Shore School District Board of Education.  I am dedicated to public service and value all the benefits this district has to offer our children. Not only am I a parent in this district, I am passionate about our education and I am a true child advocate. I believe in curriculum transparency and that parents and school staff should partner to promote education on all levels of learning, in and out of the classroom, to ensure our children are prepared for academic and life success. I have also had personal experiences with the special education process, both in my career and personal life. I continue to be very grateful for the education my children receive at North Shore. I feel that I can contribute my expertise in this area to further develop both special education programs as well as programs for all learners, to ensure resources are divided equitably amongst all students and for athletics, while maintain fiscal transparency in the process. I truly believe in the importance of athletics for community building and promotion of health and wellness. As a parent of two budding athletes, I am a staunch advocate for athletics, and I have firsthand experience with the ongoing need to upgrade and maintain North Shore’s sports programs and facilities. I also support the arts and music programs and believe it is an integral part of all students’ lives because it contributes to a well-rounded educational experience.

I love this community and would like to see North Shore thrive by contributing to that process. With the LIPA settlement looming, issues with curriculum transparency, disagreement over allotment of resources, and general fiscal transparency concerns, I truly feel that I offer a balanced, well-rounded experience that can significantly contribute to bringing North Shore forward, onward and upward. I hope that you will vote for me on May 17th, but most importantly, please vote! Your choice matters and your voice matters!