I attended college at Illinois State University and graduated in
2008 with a degree in Agricultural and English Education. After one
year of teaching, I decided to go back to college to obtain a Masters in
Special Education, which I achieved in May of 2013. (My reasoning behind this
decision was because I noticed that many students who entered my classroom
had exceptional needs, both gifted and with disabilities, and I had little
knowledge of how to reach them and help them succeed.) In 2014, I began my journey to receiving a bachelors in Early Childhood Education through Parkland Community College and National Louis University. I graduated with multiple honors and a 4.0 in November of 2020! My love of learning never stops! I live with my husband, Eric, our daughters, Paisley and Cora, four cats, Lucy, Sweety Pie, Arthas and Sylvanas, a Mini-Dachshund, Zoey, Bassett Hound, Freya, and Beagle/Lab mix, Dixie. They keep our life busy!
After my second year of teaching, I decided to open the Busy Bee Learning Center due to wanting to work with children, but not necessarily in public schools. Being a home daycare provider allows me to teach a preschool curriculum, modified for all ages and abilities, and not "teach to the test". My goal was to truly allow children to learn in their natural environment through curiosity and independence. We do a lot of our learning outside of a "classroom" in every environment possible! While public school classroom sizes are large and I enjoy small groups where I can give each child individualized attention and witness their milestones. In 2017, our home child care in Champaign, Illinois, received a Silver Quality Rating through the Excelerate program with the State of Illinois. I accepted an Early Childhood Education Fellowship through Teach Plus in December of 2018 that helps me to advocate more for the children ages birth through five politically through contacts with our local representatives, make the changes needed to the quality of care children receive in child care and preschool, and help providers feel as if their voices are heard and their profession is taken seriously.
I will continue to promote quality child care for all children, no matter their race, culture, income level, gender, and more! I have goals for obtaining the Gold Circle of Excelerate Quality level by the end of 2026, improving our program. I continue to find ways to work through advocating for Children and childcare through legislation, our union, and local advocacy as well.
2008 with a degree in Agricultural and English Education. After one
year of teaching, I decided to go back to college to obtain a Masters in
Special Education, which I achieved in May of 2013. (My reasoning behind this
decision was because I noticed that many students who entered my classroom
had exceptional needs, both gifted and with disabilities, and I had little
knowledge of how to reach them and help them succeed.) In 2014, I began my journey to receiving a bachelors in Early Childhood Education through Parkland Community College and National Louis University. I graduated with multiple honors and a 4.0 in November of 2020! My love of learning never stops! I live with my husband, Eric, our daughters, Paisley and Cora, four cats, Lucy, Sweety Pie, Arthas and Sylvanas, a Mini-Dachshund, Zoey, Bassett Hound, Freya, and Beagle/Lab mix, Dixie. They keep our life busy!
After my second year of teaching, I decided to open the Busy Bee Learning Center due to wanting to work with children, but not necessarily in public schools. Being a home daycare provider allows me to teach a preschool curriculum, modified for all ages and abilities, and not "teach to the test". My goal was to truly allow children to learn in their natural environment through curiosity and independence. We do a lot of our learning outside of a "classroom" in every environment possible! While public school classroom sizes are large and I enjoy small groups where I can give each child individualized attention and witness their milestones. In 2017, our home child care in Champaign, Illinois, received a Silver Quality Rating through the Excelerate program with the State of Illinois. I accepted an Early Childhood Education Fellowship through Teach Plus in December of 2018 that helps me to advocate more for the children ages birth through five politically through contacts with our local representatives, make the changes needed to the quality of care children receive in child care and preschool, and help providers feel as if their voices are heard and their profession is taken seriously.
I will continue to promote quality child care for all children, no matter their race, culture, income level, gender, and more! I have goals for obtaining the Gold Circle of Excelerate Quality level by the end of 2026, improving our program. I continue to find ways to work through advocating for Children and childcare through legislation, our union, and local advocacy as well.
