JTWeb

I have been a teacher for over twenty years. I originally was certified as a Physical Education teacher in 1985 after completing my student teaching and earning my degree at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Upon graduation, I was offered a position as a teacher in alternative education for a middle school. Instead of teaching in the gymnasium, I found myself in the classroom helping to educate some of the district's toughest kids. Although I loved teaching this at-risk population, I was unable to stay due to budget cuts, and my position was eliminated. That summer I found myself completely changing careers and moving into recreation management. I remained in this field for the next fifteen years before I found myself yearning to go back to the classroom. In 2001, I returned to teaching, once again working in special education with emotional/ behavioral at-risk children. In 2014, I switched disciplines and began working in a more inclusive model teaching ESL. I have always taught in an urban setting and can honestly say I have taught a very diverse population over my tenure as a teacher.