Q: What’s your favorite thing about teaching? Why?

A: I love seeing my students try, maybe fail, try again, and learn! The feeling of seeing my students grow as an individual is extremely rewarding. 

Q: What’s your favorite subject to teach?

A: I love teaching dance.  Seeing students who are both familiar and unfamiliar with dance enjoy creative movement makes my heart happy.

Q: What does a typical day look like for you?

A: My day is filled with obstacles, challenges, and lots of traveling. I teach Dance I, Dance II, and Sophomore PE.  Every class brings different obstacles and different lessons. Whether it be helping students with lockers, missing items, or late passes in the locker room, or creating a different approach to deliver material to help individual students and classes grow while creating an environment of comfort to try, be creative, and comprehend the material. When I’m not in class I’m usually choreographing, cutting music, or preparing for Eaglettes.

Q: How long have you been teaching?

A: I’m currently in my nineteenth year of teaching at Carl Sandburg.

Q: What inspired you to become a teacher? 

A: I have always loved working with kids. I began teaching gymnastics, dance, and cheerleading at 16 and knew that helping kids grow and be active was what my passion was. 

Q: What’s it like being a coach for the Eaglettes?

A: Being the Eaglettes coach is very rewarding and challenging. Every year is filled with a new team, new skills, new dances, and different personalities. It is my ambition to find ways to connect with my dancers individually to find what motivates them and also to find a dynamic approach to help the team grow to be one resulting in accomplishing group goals. 

Q: What inspired you to become a dance coach?

A: I always loved creative movement and acrobatics. I have a large background in tumbling, cheerleading, and dance. This combination of wanting to work with kids led me to begin coaching gymnastics, cheerleading, and dance at a Park District at a young age, coaching a High School cheerleading team through college, and coaching dance here at Carl Sandburg for the last 10 years.

Q: What’s the best part about being a teacher/ dance coach?

A: As I mentioned earlier, the best part about being a teacher and coach is seeing students and student-athletes accomplish a goal that they worked hard to achieve.  Seeing the face of accomplishment or celebration is absolutely priceless. 

Q: What’s your favorite food? Why?

A: I don’t think I have a “favorite” food. I love tacos, pizza, and subs, but usually enjoy my food best when I’m surrounded by my family. 

Q: Favorite color?

A:  Aqua….  I love beaches, boating, and Aqua water! lol

Q: Favorite animal?

A: Bulldogs!  I have 4, DarLa Mae, Biggie, Fiona, and Charlie.