Upper Elementary
4th - 5th grade

I didn't intend to be a teacher. I went to NC State as an agriculture major and came out with a degree in Horticulture with a concentration in design. After graduation, I found myself with an opportunity to move overseas and the only job I could find was at an international Montessori school in Naples, Italy as an assistant in a 9-12 classroom. As fate would have it, I turned out to be pretty good at it so the school offered to train me so I could have my own class the following year. I taught at AI Montessori for three more years and that's where I got the foundation I have today. I learned that you had to have a sense of humor, a sense of purpose, and a sense of wonder, just like the kids in order to connect and for them to learn. I am still friends with many of those kids to this day. Fast forward, I taught the 9-12 at Mountain Pathways for 15 years. During that time I developed a farming and gardening curriculum, planned some spectacular field trips (New York City, The Golden Isles of Georgia), and really dialed in how the 9-12 worked. I left a lot on the field there, but it was an experience I will never forget and am deeply thankful for. Somewhere during that time I got a MA in Sustainable Development with a concentration in education from Appalachian State, became a certified paralegal courtesy of Auburn University, obtained my real estate license, and welcomed both my boys into this world, Ash and Woods. Now as a teacher here at Imagine, I am enjoying my time as a seasoned teacher and time with kids in a slightly different way. I am sharing their educational journey with parents, and it's a partnership that allows for more flexibility and time with my own family. My dedication will always be the same and it is truly a joy to share the Upper El with Emily, and I hope we will continue for many years to come. 

I grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and in 1997, I came to Boone to attend Appalachian State University, where I graduated with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. I ended up making Boone my home, getting married to my husband, Dave, and raising our three children here. Dave is also an educator and teaches middle school science at Valle Crucis Elementary.

After my time at Mountain Pathways Montessori School, I earned my real estate license in 2019 and have enjoyed helping people and families find their homes in the High Country ever since. Real estate has given me the opportunity to continue working with people from all walks of life and has kept me connected to the community I love.

I’m excited to return to the classroom and join Kristy at Kinderwood Imagine Bilingual, where I’ll be working with the 4th and 5th grade students. I previously had the joy of working alongside Kristy at Mountain Pathways Montessori School from 2014–2019 in the 9–12-year-old classroom. My years at Mountain Pathways were incredibly meaningful, and I loved watching students grow in their independence, confidence, curiosity, and love of learning.

My own three children were part of my classroom community during those years. They are now young adults, so I’ve had the unique experience of growing alongside them as both a teacher and a parent. I’m especially excited to return to working with this age group and to bring my experience, enthusiasm, and love of learning back into the classroom. I’m looking forward to getting to know the students and families at Kinderwood Imagine Bilingual and beginning this next chapter with Kristy!

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