In order to provide my students with a phenomenal year of learning, I believe it is important for families and teachers to synergize as a team.  We must maintain continual communication via e-mails, conferences, phone calls, and our academic calendar. Parents are our students' first and most influential teachers. I value their input and I am excited about our year of learning together.

     I am originally from Long Island, New York, but spent my middle school years living in Cairo, Egypt. Yes, that is how my passion for geography, history, and world cultures began! After living in land of the pharaohs, my family relocated to Arizona. I graduated from Marcos de Niza in Tempe and received both my Bachelors and Masters degrees from Northern Arizona University. Besides teaching 6th grade social studies, I have taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades at Kyrene del Norte and Kyrene de la Mirada Leadership Academy. And, because of my love for travel, I also spent two years teaching at Rabat American School in Morocco, Africa.

    My husband and I have a 21 year old daughter who recently got married and is following our footsteps by attending NAU. Outside of the school day, I am chasing my personal dream of completing the 6 Abbot World marathon races (NYC '11, Chicago '12, Berlin '18, Boston '20, Tokyo ?, and London ?). Besides running, I love to visit with my family and friends, explore the numerous Arizona trails, read historical biographies or mystery novels, and volunteer for the community. I eat mostly plants and am a huge Tom Petty fan.