With the transition to grade-level attendance centers within the Iola School District, I was given the opportunity to become the Library Media Specialist for kindergarten at McKinley Elementary and for first and second at Jefferson Elementary.   Mrs. Dickerson and Mrs. Melvin, library paraprofessionals, help to create places where children want to be.  The McKinley and Jefferson libraries are busy places checking out over 50,000 books a year!  I have a range of professional duties and committees; Technology SAC, Iola Reads, Young Authors, INEA Read Across America, INEA Evaluation Committee, Jefferson PTO Teacher Rep.

I started my teaching career at Jefferson Elementary.  In August of 1995, I was hired as a Title 1 Math Teacher; that position quickly changed to include Title 1 Reading.  It was here working with fellow Title 1 teacher, Sharon Whitworth, that I began my love of books and reading.  In those early days of my teaching career that Title 1 funding was not a guarantee.  So I decided to take a more secure teaching position in second grade.  I loved every minute in second grade.  Being able to watch children develop into readers and writers is what inspires me to teach.  Then the Board of Education changed the boundary lines to adjust for the changing population to the north.  This changed my second-grade position into a floating position.  After floating for two years, I decided to change to a permanent position at McKinley Elementary.  After one year at McKinley, a library media position at Lincoln Elementary was available.  Instilling the love of reading and of books all day, absolutely! 

• 2016 USD 257 Elementary Teacher of the Year
• 2015 McKinley (PreK and K) & Jefferson Elementary (1^st & 2^nd Grade)  Library Media Specialist
• 2009 Lincoln Elementary (K-5) & McKinley Elementary (1st & 2nd Grade) Library Media Specialist
• 2005 USD 257 Elementary Teacher of the Year
• 2003 Lincoln Elementary (K-5) & LaHarpe (K-3) Library Media Specialist
• 2002 4th Grade at McKinley Elementary
• 2001 4th Grade at Jefferson Elementary
• 2000 3rd Grade at Jefferson Elementary
• 1998-2000 2nd Grade at Jefferson Elementary
• 1995-1998 Title 1 Math & Reading at Jefferson Elementary
• 1994-1995 Long term sub in fourth grade at Jefferson Elementary
• Spring 1994 Student taught in sixth grade at Jefferson Elementary