TeachActually

I jumped into teaching at 36 and haven’t looked back—well, maybe a few times! It’s been 20 years now, and what a ride it’s been. I kicked things off in first grade, then made the move to kindergarten at a small parochial school. From there, I took a sharp turn into middle school and spent 11 wild, wonderful years teaching 6th through 8th grade in a public school. Eventually, I found my way back to the little ones, teaching 3rd grade during the COVID era (dodged the virtual middle school bullet, thank goodness), and now I’m happily teaching 4th grade. Retirement is just a few years away, but I’m still loving the chaos, the creativity, and the kids!

I’m all about inspiring young minds and making a real difference, but I also believe in keeping it real. Teaching isn’t all sunshine and sharpened pencils; it’s ACTUALLY demanding, chaotic, and let’s be honest, rarely glamorous. Over the years, I’ve learned to lean into resilience, embrace the mess, and build systems that help keep things (mostly) on track. I love sharing practical tools that have actually worked in the classroom, because I know how overwhelming it can be to reinvent the wheel every Sunday night. I also firmly believe it takes a village...collaboration, community, and the occasional group text rant are what keep us going. Honestly? Teaching feels a lot like running a marathon for ten months straight without water breaks. But we do it, year after year, because it matters... and because deep down, we love it.

My path to the classroom wasn’t exactly traditional. I started out taking night classes at community college while juggling life with three young kids at home—lots of coffee and very little sleep! Eventually, I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rowan University with a focus on writing, and I took the alternative route into teaching rather than the usual education program. It wasn’t the straightest line, but it got me exactly where I was meant to be.

Before I became a teacher, I was a stay-at-home mom to three kids, doing my best to keep everyone alive, fed, and occasionally on time. My husband’s a state trooper, so life was always a bit of a juggling act. When I did step into the classroom, it felt like coming full circle—I started out teaching at the same parochial school my kids and I had both attended. Over time, I realized I wasn’t just passionate about teaching students—I was just as passionate about supporting teachers. That’s why I started Teach Actually: to share honest, practical, no-fluff resources that help teachers stay afloat, stay inspired, and maybe even laugh a little along the way. Because let’s face it—this job is tough, but it’s also full of purpose and heart. Welcome to "Teach Actually". Visit me on www.teachactually.com for more info on how to get organized, stay inspired, and teach with purpose.