The Structured SPED Classroom

With more than 17 years of experience in special education, I have dedicated my career to helping students with diverse academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs achieve success. I currently teach middle school special education and serve as my department's co-chair, where I collaborate with colleagues to develop systems, support inclusive practices, and improve outcomes for students. My classroom is built on the belief that structure creates independence. Every resource in this store has been developed, refined, and used with real students before being shared with other educators. From behavior management systems and self-regulation lessons to executive functioning supports, I create practical, easy-to-implement tools that save teachers time while helping students build confidence, independence, and meaningful life skills. My goal is simple: to provide classroom-tested resources that help educators spend less time creating materials and more time making a difference for their students.

I believe every student is capable of growth when they are provided with meaningful relationships, clear expectations, and explicit instruction. Just as we teach reading, writing, and math, I believe behavioral, executive functioning, and social-emotional skills must also be intentionally taught, modeled, practiced, and reinforced. My teaching style is structured, relationship-centered, and highly practical. I break complex skills into manageable steps, use consistent routines, and provide students with the tools they need to become more independent and confident learners. Rather than focusing solely on correcting behavior, I strive to help students understand *why* they react the way they do and equip them with strategies they can use both inside and outside the classroom. The resources I create reflect this philosophy. They're designed to be easy for teachers to implement, engaging for students, and flexible enough to meet the needs of learners with a wide range of abilities. My goal is to provide practical solutions that help educators spend less time planning and more time connecting with the students who need them most.

Throughout my career, I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside amazing students, families, and colleagues who continually inspire me to grow as an educator. Some career highlights include: * 🏆 2026 City of St. Charles School District Teacher of the Year * 🏆 2026 Hardin Middle School Teacher of the Year * 🏆 2024 St. Charles Foundation Grant Recipient * 🏆 2018 Mark Hanley Teacher of the Year While these recognitions are meaningful, my proudest moments happen in the classroom. Watching a student who once believed they were a "bad kid" begin to see their own potential, seeing students independently use coping strategies they once struggled to identify, or hearing a former student share how the skills they learned continue to help them years later—those are the moments that remind me why I became a special education teacher. Every resource I create is inspired by those experiences and by my belief that all students deserve opportunities to grow, succeed, and discover what they're capable of.

My passion for special education has been shaped by both my education and my classroom experiences. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University, followed by a Master of Science in Special Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. I later completed an Education Specialist degree in Educational Administration at Lindenwood University. Throughout my career, I have continued pursuing professional learning in behavior support, curriculum development, instructional design, and educational leadership. I believe that great teachers are lifelong learners, and I strive to continually grow so I can better serve my students and support fellow educators. The resources I share in this store reflect not only what I've learned through my formal education, but also the lessons I've gained from more than 17 years of working alongside incredible students, families, and colleagues.

When I'm not in the classroom, you'll usually find me creating new teaching resources, reading a good book, spending time with my family, or finding inspiration from the everyday moments that happen with my students. I started The Structured SPED Classroom because I know how overwhelming special education can be. Between IEPs, progress monitoring, behavior support, lesson planning, and everything else teachers juggle, there's rarely enough time in the day. My hope is that these resources give educators practical tools they can confidently use tomorrow, while saving valuable planning time. Many of the ideas in this store were born from real classroom challenges. If a strategy or lesson helped one of my students become more independent, more confident, or more successful, I wanted to share it with other educators who may be facing similar challenges. Thank you for stopping by my store and allowing me to be a small part of your teaching journey. I hope the resources you find here help make your classroom a little more structured, your planning a little easier, and your students even more successful.