BackEducational Background
I spent all my school years in Eureka. I graduated from Eureka High School in 1984. After that, I took half a year off to take a break and so I really knew what I wanted to be- a teacher. I went to Northern State College (that's what it was named when I was there) in Aberdeen. I graduated from NSC in December of 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Reading.
My first teaching job took me to Java, SD. I taught 4th, 5th, 6th grades combined with a total of 10 students. That was the year Java closed its doors so the following year I found myself in Eureka. I was the Title I teacher there for many years and then 1999-2000 was my first year as the second grade teacher. I love teaching. I love my job. I enjoy doing the different things with my kids. I enjoy what they "bring into" a discussion of Social Studies or Science or whatever. I like watching their faces when they "get it" or if it's a topic that they are really interested in.
I take various workshops to keep on top of my required credits that I need to update my teaching certificate. I took TTL (Technology for Teaching and Learning) in Eureka in June 2002. That class certainly was a learning experience. I had learned alot of things regarding technology and how I can incorporate it into my classroom.