Hometown
Hampton, Virginia
Colleges/Universities attended
Longwood University – Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration
Old Dominion University – Special Education certification
Virginia Tech – Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Grade levels/subjects taught
Special Education services for Kindergarten through 5th grade, worked mostly with 4th and 5th grade; worked many different disabilities in pull out and push in settings
Places you have taught
Hampton City Schools
What are your hobbies?
I love spending time with my family in all capacities. During the summer time, we spend a lot of time by the water whether it is at a beach or a pool. During the fall, I love being outside and enjoy the beauty of Virginia. My kids are knee deep into sports during almost every season and I just love watching them play and grow as teammates and as people.
Something students would be surprised about
Students would be surprised to learn that I played college baseball
What do you love most about working with kids?
I love how real kids are. Love it or hate it, they will tell you the truth more often than not. I love the innocence of our little ones and seeing the spark when a kid finally figures it out. I love how much I learn from kids. Whether they know it or not, I learn A LOT from them.
Where/from whom do you find inspiration?
My parents, without a doubt. They came to Virginia from Puerto Rico a little over 40 years ago with very little English speaking skills at the time and have overcome so many obstacles that has come their way. They were scared and took the leap of faith anyway. My mom stayed at home while raising us kids, while my dad pursued his dream of working as an Electrical Engineer at NASA. They are the reason I am where I am today and the “don’t quit” attitude they instilled in myself and my siblings. When things get hard, I think of how much harder it was for them. It definitely puts it into perspective for me.