I am currently in my 15th year of teaching. I graduated from Texas State University with a degree in English and later earned my Master’s in Education, also from Texas State. My journey into teaching was deeply inspired by my children’s experience at Doss Elementary. The incredible teachers, staff, and community there motivated me to return to school to pursue education as a career. I began teaching third grade at Doss—and I’ve been happily teaching there ever since.

There are so many things I love about being a teacher, but what means the most to me is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on children and their families. My goal has always been to teach and nurture the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally. While academic growth is important, I believe that social and emotional development, along with building students’ confidence, is truly the foundation for all learning. Early in my career, I attended a three-day training called Capturing Kids’ Hearts, and it completely shaped my approach to teaching. The message behind the name says it all—if you have a child’s heart, you can guide them anywhere they need to go, both academically and personally.  Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how connecting with students in this way not only helps them grow as learners but also as kind, confident individuals.

My best advice for parents is to truly partner with teachers to help provide the most supportive and meaningful school experience possible. These elementary years are such an important time—you still have a major influence on your child’s growth and development, both academically and personally. Take time to look through your child’s graded work and homework, not just to check for completion, but as an opportunity for meaningful conversations. Ask them what they’re proud of, what was challenging, and what they learned from the process. Those small, everyday moments of connection make a big difference in building a child’s confidence and helping them take ownership of their learning. When parents and teachers work together, students feel supported from every side—and that’s when they truly thrive.

I feel supported by the Doss community every single day—through their kind words, encouragement, and genuine involvement in our classroom.  It’s incredibly motivating to know that our community values education and works together to create such a positive, nurturing environment for both students and teachers.