I am a proud Colorado native! I love spending time outdoors in many beautiful areas around the state. Some of my favorite areas are on the Western Slope near Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction and Durango. I spend most of my time with my wonderful new husband and three rescue dogs.
This is my first year at Traut! So far, I like how all the staff at Traut have been so kind and welcoming. I am looking forward to joining the wonderful Traut community!
My hobbies and interests depend on the season. In the summer, spring and fall my favorite outdoor activities are hiking, camping, and gardening. In the winter I love to ski and snowboard. When I'm not outside, I enjoy sewing, crafting, and baking.
I enjoy reading a variety of books. The genres I like the best are historical fiction, fantasy, adventure, and mystery.
In my classroom, I create an environment so that everyone feels safe, valued, and successful. It is important for me to get to know each individual student's strengths, hobbies, preferences, and dreams, so we can build a positive teacher to student relationship. This builds a foundation to create a learning plan that allows each student to be an active participant in their learning journey. One way a student is an active participant in their learning journey is figuring out what kind of multi-sensory learner they are, such as hands-on, auditory, and/or visual. Then we can adapt the learning to fit each person's individual learning style.
This is my 17th year of teaching! I have spent 14 of those years as an elementary special education teacher, 1 year as a 3rd grade teacher, and 2 years as a math interventionist for K-5. I have been a Certified Academic Language Therapist (dyslexia therapist) for 14 years. I also have training to support students with executive functioning, emotional regulation, and behavioral needs.