Childhood
It was the summer of 1977. New York City experienced a blackout and the "Summer of Sam," Elvis's death rocked the world, and Carly Simon's "Nobody Does It Better" played on the radio. But, most importantly, I was born. My early years were spent watching Sesame Street, riding my tricycle outside, and making up stories to be acted out by either my Barbies, my sister, or anyone who was willing to enter the realm of my imagination.
Because of my overactive imaginings and my love of creating stories, it came as no surprise that I eventually fell in love with books. I adored getting lost in the worlds created by these books and became so involved with the characters that they felt like friends. One day after school I became so involved in my book that I didn't realize I had missed the bus until I looked up and found all of the other students were missing. On many occasions I had to be reminded that I had other jobs to be completed that had nothing to do with reading!
As I grew up and entered high school, everyone said I should become a teacher. I quickly informed those people that I didn't want to teach and would never be a teacher! I'd always been fascinated with hospitals and medicine, so I set my sights on becoming a doctor. I graduated from high school fifth in my class and received a full scholarship to attend the local community college.
College
My first year of college, after discovering how long it took to become a doctor, I decided to major in nursing. It was while I was in my first semester of nursing school, which focused on geriatric care, that I realized I hated nursing, re-evaluated my career choice, and changed my major to mass communications. To be honest, at that point I didn't know what I wanted to do. I had been so intent on going into medicine that I didn't leave room to consider anything else. I was floundering in a sea of indecision and I wasn't sure how to pull myself out.
The pivotal point in my life came when I decided to take a job working in the after-school center of a local daycare for the summer. I was in charge of approximately forty children, ages five to twelve, from 7:30 am until 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. I planned activities, chaperoned field trips, and fell in love with each and every one of those children that summer. It was then that I decided to change my major to elementary education and work with kids for the rest of my life.
Upon graduating from Polk Community College in the fall of 1997, I transferred to Florida State University for the spring semester of 1998 as an education major. Before graduating from FSU in 2000, I completed my internship in a fourth grade classroom and made up my mind that fourth grade was the grade to teach.
Teaching
Once I graduated and moved back home, I was successful in getting a job teaching fourth graders at a brand new elementary school. This proved to be the worst year of my teaching career! I had 32 children in my class, half of which didn't speak English as their first language, no textbooks, and an administration that changed mid-year. I remember calling the teacher I interned under, crying my eyes out saying, "I can't do this!" After some very kind words, and quite a few pieces of chocolate, I was assured that I could do it and I managed to make it to the end of the year with my sanity intact.
I changed schools the next year, still managing to stay in the fourth grade, and stayed at that school for 3 years. Even though I loved the school I was teaching in, as well as greatly enjoying my new position of Title 1 resource teacher, my parents decided to make the move to the mountains of North Georgia, so I decided to move with them.
Because there were no available teaching positions in the county I moved to, I had to look to a larger county to find a job. I was able to obtain a teaching position, still in the fourth grade, at an elementary school in Hall County that boasted a 97% Hispanic student population. In fact, everyone in my class of twelve were Hispanic, and every one of my students had failed the CRCT. I went into the school year dreading the job I had in front of me and left with a whole new insight and love for the Hispanic culture!
However, the drive to the school, as well as gas prices, were wearing on me and I made the decision to move to a school closer to home. Amazingly, a job opportunity became available at White County Intermediate School in the fourth grade! Call it Karma, fate, or an act of God, I was able to remain teaching the grade level I enjoyed in the county I wanted to teach in and have been there ever since.
Continuing Education
At some point in my teaching career, I grew weary of being in the classroom and desired to expand my horizons in a different educational direction. Remembering my love of books and my ever-growing fascination, enjoyment, and expertise in technology, I made the decision to become a school library media specialist. What could be more exciting than sharing my passion for books with an entire student body without losing the opportunity to teach and work with teachers? Also, I would be able to focus more attention on technology, which I am asked to help fellow teachers with on a weekly basis anyway. As I have worked my way through the Instructional Technology program at the University of Georgia, the knowledge that I was meant to become a media specialist has grown and solidified. I can't wait for all the new opportunities this position will present and look forward to the future with great anticipation!
Life Goals
Professionally, my goals center around being the best media specialist possible. I want my students to enjoy reading, to love coming to the media center, and to feel like they can communicate with me on any level. I want the teachers I work with to feel comfortable collaborating and sharing their students with me. I plan on attending professional conferences so that I can learn about new books, new technology, and innovative ways of reaching my learning community. I never want to forget that I am still a student and always need to be taught by people who do it better.
Personally, as a newlywed, I plan on enjoying my new husband and eventually having children. I would like to stay home with my children and be a housewife until they begin school, but then continue my career as a media specialist. After retirement, I dream of traveling and seeing the world I have always read about!