• Positions: Digital Media teacher

• Bachelors/Degrees & from where: BFA in graphic design. Soon a masters in ED Tech leadership

• School Activities: Supporting Mr. Green and the journalism program

• Years at Caney Creek: 1st year

• Years Teaching: 7th year

How would other people describe you?

I hope, kind. I feel like something I strive to be. Probably a little quirky, and a little awkward maybe. Especially if I’m a little nervous. I always try to be hardworking, so I hope that’s how people describe me.

Was there a career you wanted to pursue OR pursued before teaching.

Well, originally I wanted to be a graphic designer and I did that for a while in the private sector. I really liked freelancing too, so just being able to be at home with my 9 month old. I started the process right before I came here to become a IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), so I hope I finish that because I put in a lot of work for it. For now, it’s just on the back burner though.

Tell us about how you got into teaching. 

I was a graphic designer before I started teaching. I have my degree in graphic design, I interned in the private sector, and I actually worked as a graphic designer for a lumber company. I did all the things for them, but what I noticed was that I didn’t really get to impact people. I impacted their profit, for sure, but I did not impact people and I worked on the side as a youth leader and I worked with kids. I actually thought I could be a teacher for a little bit, but one of my friends told me that I would be a terrible teacher.. So I pushed it to the side. Then, one day somebody called me from the high school I graduated from and asked me if I’d be interested in being a teacher. I was like, ‘Actually, yes’ and they got me in for an interview and were like ‘Okay you start in 3 weeks!’ I had zero experience, it was crazy.

What do you do outside of school for fun? Why? 

I do photography on the side, I love that. My husband and I do quince photography and that’s really fun because then you can go to a lot of quince’s and those are, like, crazy. I have a 9 month old and I love to be with her, taking pictures of her as well.I work a lot with my church, I do discipleship so a lot of one-on-one helping people grow, and I help with some families so that’s really fun. 

When people get to know you, what are they most surprised to learn about you? 

I fostered 2 kids ,who were my students, when I was 23. They stayed with me for 3 years until they aged out of the foster care system and I still have a pretty good relationship with them today. I say I have these kids that look really old. We take them to places like the dentist and people are like ‘Sister, or friend?’ and I’m like ‘This is mom.’ So, whenever people see me, they see the picture of them on my desk and are like they’re pretty surprised to learn that they’re my girls. When I got them, one of the girls was 17 so she’s 5 years younger than me. It’s been a pretty great experience.

Tell us the story about what you are most proud of yourself for.

After I had my daughter. For a long time, because I had fostered my kids and in the way that happened, I thought that it was not gonna be possible for me to have kids. I have fertility issues so when I got involved in the foster care system, I didn’t think I would ever be able to have kids of my own. So, to go through all of the stress and everything that it took to get my daughter here, it was just a lot. People told me I wouldn’t be able to have her naturally, and I was like no. I was determined to have her the way I wanted to, and I was able to have her the way I wanted to and really just, be her mom. Her middle name is actually Milagros because it took so many miracles to get her here. 

Who is someone you are thankful for and why?

My husband. For me, when people tell me ‘Oh you have this limitation’ or ‘you can’t do this, you can’t do that.’ my husband is like no, that’s wrong. So, I doubt myself sometimes but you know, he never doubts me. I wish I could view myself the way he views me.

What advice would you give to someone pursuing a career similar to yours?

Know more people. I was very self critical of my work, so I didn’t share my work as much as I probably should have. I think I’m good at what I do, but I have imposter syndrome and a big critic. So, my network was not very good and expansive when I first started out. Then, I didn’t have as many opportunities. If I had just put my work out there – good, bad, whatever – I would have gotten better feedback and improved more. I’m still very blessed to have as many opportunities as I have, but if I would’ve not been as anxious and as critical of myself then I would’ve had a more expansive network. 

What do you hope to be remembered for? 

Kindness and how I made people feel. I feel like that sticks in peoples’ brains and I never want to say something, you know, even just flippingly that someone is critical of themself for. Like what I shared with the teacher. My friend probably didn’t even mean anything by it when she was like ‘Oh, you wouldn’t make a good teacher.’ but for years, I did not pursue that because it was stuck in my brain. So, I never wanna be remembered for something like that. I wanna be remembered for kind words and words of encouragement.

What’s on your bucket list? 

I want to travel to more countries. I’d really like to take my daughter to Germany. When I was in high school, my best friend was a foreign exchange student from Germany. She ended up coming to live with me so we visited each other. I’d like to take my daughter because she hasn’t met her. 

Favorites

• Food: Chicken alfredo

• Song: God and Prozac by Chris Renzma

• Movie or TV Show: Harry Potter

• Book: The Bible, or something by Jackie Hill Perry

• Color: Light purple