About Me:My reasons for going into teaching were influenced by my family and educational background. My grandmother had the biggest impact on my decision to become a teacher, she would always say there were two major influences in a child's life...family and teachers. My aunt (pictured) was a natural teacher, She and I were two peas in a pod. I notice that I use the same mannerisms and speech as her in my teaching. I am half Chaldean and half European. My grandmother and aunt lived with my family and didn't speak any English, because of this we only spoke Chaldean in our household. It wasn't until kindergarten that I began to learn English. Unfortunately, growing up there wasn't enough research on EL's to give support to non-English speaking students, therefore, I had a very difficult time in school. This is why I am very proud to be an EL teacher. My career with EL's began right out high school, where I was a bilingual aide for Hazel Park Schools. While I worked there, I attended Oakland University and earned degrees in History and Sociology. From OU, I went to Wayne State and earned endorsements in Social Studies and English as a Second Language. After working in Hazel Park, I subbed for Utica Community Schools and Warren Consolidated Schools, then taught 7th and 8th Grade Social Studies to amazing students at Riverside Academy West in Dearborn. I thoroughly enjoyed working at Warren Consolidated and am thrilled to be back here. |