Welcome to 8th grade, Class of 2028, parents, and guardians! This is my twenty-third year teaching eighth-grade ELA at MMS, and I am looking forward to sharing my love of reading and writing with each of you. I spent the first eighteen years of my life in New Jersey, and in 2001, I graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s degree in English. In 2005, I completed my Master’s in Children’s Literature at Eastern Michigan University. At home in Dexter, my son Eric is entering eleventh grade, and my daughter Delia is entering eighth grade. Both of my children swim competitively year-round and play water polo, so as a family, we spend many hours poolside throughout the state of Michigan. When I am not at school, I enjoy volunteering with Leader Dogs for the Blind and The Alliance of Therapy Dogs. With my certified therapy dogs, I volunteer at Chelsea Hospital and with Therapaws. Our current Leader Dogs for the Blind Mom, Sylvie, will be having her fifth litter of puppies this winter, and they will all be trained to be guide dogs. I am excited to meet and work with each and every one of you!