Background
I grew up in Johnsburg, Illinois about 10 minutes south of the border of Wisconsin. I was a very involved student throughout my Junior High and High School days, as well as my time at Western Illinois University. I played softball for 12 years, participated in Girl Scouts for 10 years, and I took dance classes for 12 years, all starting when I was in first grade. In Johnsburg Junior High School, I was in 5th grade when I started to play the flute for the school band. I sang in the choir when I was in 8th grade. In Johnsburg High School, I became active in Johnsburg Softball for 2 years and Johnsburg Tennis for 3 years, becoming the co-captain my Junior year. I was also in the high school band (now playing the tuba), choir, Madrigals, Student Advisory Council, Link Crew, marching band, theater, Morning Announcements Speaker, Quill and Scroll, Yearbook Editor-In-Chief, and I choreographed for our high school musicals. A lot of people say that they never liked high school growing up, but I loved it and got myself involved whenever and wherever I could. I received the Honor Thespian Award and MVP Award for theater my Senior year, along with receiving the National Choral Award, and becoming the Queen of Madrigals. I landed two lead roles in theater my Senior year including Charlotte Haye in Moon Over Buffalo and Belle in Beauty and the Beast. My band and choir performed in the Bahamas and in Disney World, both of which I had solos for in the choir. At Western Illinois University, I was a member of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Collegiate Choir, University Band, and Intramural Softball. I was the co-treasurer of NCTE and spoke with a group of fellow English Education majors at an NCTE conference in the Spring of 2013. I was an active member of Chi Omega for 5 years and held the positions of Career and Personal Development Chair and Sisterhood Director. I created a new philanthropy event called Dance for Wishes to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and it is now going to be an annual event. I also choreographed for Chi Omega's Variety shows throughout the years. In 2012, I became the Greek community's Greek Goddess 2012. It was given to one Greek woman and one Greek man who participate in "royalty games" throughout Greek Week and are selected based on how well they do with these games and whether or not they exemplify all that it means to be a Greek Leader. I worked several jobs while I was block teaching, taking classes, and student teaching. I worked three jobs on top of student teaching during Fall 2013. I worked as a First Responder for Western Emergency Medical Services and a dispatcher and student patrol for the Office of Public Safety Campus Police. My First Responder job had me clocking in at 6:30p.m. and clocking out at 7a.m. the next morning. With a commute of an hour to Lewistown, I periodically had to go straight from Western EMS to student teaching still in my uniform. I am proud of the accomplishments I have made and I am confident that participating in all of these different groups and activities will make me a better teacher for your child because I know what it is like to be busy with work and school and I know what it feels like to have a teacher show up to my events in school because they care about me as a person as well as their student. |