I am beyond excited to call Woodside Elementary School home, and I cannot wait to get to know all the wonderful students, families, and community members that make this place so special. Before becoming an educator, I spent most of my younger years as a competitive gymnast. My 17 years of passion and dedication for the sport eventually allowed me the greatest honor of competing at the collegiate level for California State University, Sacramento! After graduation, I spent approximately 3 years as a Behavior Interventionist working 1:1 with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other disabilities. This experience brought me an immense amount of joy and gratitude and a skill set that I have taken with me into my classroom practices. I have had amazing opportunities in my career, including being the AVID coordinator, which provides access and opportunities for students to become college and career-ready, helping raise over $30,000 for my school site through our annual Jog-A-Thon fundraiser, and being a part of our school's leadership team where we focus on the needs of all our students in our community. In my classroom, I believe that building strong, trusting relationships with my students and their families is the foundation for success, both behaviorally and academically. I love learning about their interests, hobbies, and dreams for their fourth-grade year and beyond. Prioritizing students’ needs and providing them with the individualized support they need to meet their goals is something I strive for every single day. I communicate often with families, and I work closely with both students and staff to ensure a diverse range of learning tools are being used, students are actively engaged in every lesson, and we build a classroom culture in which every student thrives in! I value teamwork, perseverance, and accountability – qualities I learned from my years as an athlete. I ask that students show up every day ready to try their best, show kindness and respect to all, and, most importantly, fall in love with learning new things! I know that Woodside Elementary values these qualities in their students, staff, and community, which is one of the many reasons I'm looking forward to joining their family. Go Wildcats!