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I am a licensed special education teacher, whose passion is helping struggling students learn the skills and strategies to achieve their goals and independence.
I am a licensed special education teacher, whose passion is helping struggling students learn the skills and strategies to achieve their goals and independence.
MY STORY
As I look back, I see how clearly my life circumstances led me to my career as a private special education support provider. My experiences, both the positive and the challenging, have helped me gain the skills to teach as I do today.
I was born and raised in Boulder County, where I was homeschooled until high school. My passion for education began at a young age when I was encouraged to learn in a creative and individualized way. I thrived on project-based learning and hands-on activities, and I loved the opportunity to explore my interests at my own pace.
In high school, at Peak to Peak Charter School, I was privileged to have teachers who continued this tradition of thoughtful instruction that was individualized for the specific learning styles and needs of each student. I learned how important it is to provide engaging instruction and to make sure all students feel safe, respected, and understood.
While in college earning my degree in Secondary Special Education, I loved spending my summers with children and young adults with significant to profound support needs at Camp Paha. This experience gave me my first taste of how life-changing teaching and accommodating practical life skills can be.
One of my first positions in education was providing support for young adults with significant support needs with Jefferson County Transition Services. From running a coffee shop to field trips on 16th Street Mall, I supported my students in learning life, community, and social-emotional skills. I am now able to use these strategies to help people of all ages move towards independence.
I later worked in SVVSD at Longmont High School as a Special Education teacher with a focus on Literacy and Life Skills. My experiences teaching there gave me a firsthand look at the strengths and weaknesses of the school system. This knowledge has equipped me with the insights necessary to help students who are struggling academically and ensure that they are receiving the education they deserve.
During the spring semester of 2020, I saw my students falling behind on the goals they had been diligently working towards. My hands felt tied. I spent the summer dreaming up ways I could support students in a more individualized way, and Scaffold Educational Support was born.
WHY I DO WHAT I DO
I have loved teaching for as long as I can remember. From showing my sister to how knit with pencils on a road trip to teaching my neighborhood friends to keep a budget with our play money. I find great joy in sharing information and skills with others.
Perhaps because I had so many creative and accommodating learning and social environments, I managed to reach the age of twenty-three before I was assessed for Autism Spectrum Disorder. While I generally had many good life experiences, I now recognize situations where I wish I had better understood the way my brain works. I was able to learn many strategies to accommodate for myself. However, most of these lessons were learned the hard way. I now have the opportunity to share these hard-earned skills and strategies with others, so that they are better equipped to face their own future challenges.
While not all of my students are on the Autism Spectrum, I work to use this knowledge, along with my pedagogical skills to support students with a personal touch. Many people with neurodivergence like ASD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia, have overlaps in thinking which I am uniquely qualified to address.
I have a deep understanding of the strengths and challenges that come with being on the spectrum. I know what it's like to struggle with social skills, sensory processing, and executive function. This understanding allows me to connect with my students on a personal level and to provide them with the support they need to succeed.
Neurodivergent students learn differently. I embrace these differences. I am not afraid to try new things and am always willing to adapt my teaching style to meet the needs of my students.
Afterall, as Ignacio Estrada said,
"If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.”
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