Merkzone

I have 15 years of teaching experience at the middle school level. I spent 8 years working as an assistant director for our school's annual musical. Additionally, I have spent 6 years as a coach for PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Support), providing social-emotional lessons, celebrations, and activities for our building. I am an instrumental musician, having played flute formally since 5th grade. I studied Music Education at NIU for 1 and 1/2 years before changing my major to General Education with certifications for Middle School in Language Arts, Social Studies, Music, and Technology. In addition to General Music, I have taught; Fine Arts (Drama), Study Skills, Oral Communications, Advanced Graphic Arts, World Cultures, Career Education, Multimedia, Technology, Digital Literacy, and Computer Essentials. I have a Master's in Educational Technology from Concordia University, Chicago. I am currently working on an Educational Doctoral Degree in Instructional Design from Northcentral University.

I tend to front load my units with guided instruction to build scaffolding, then I shift to student driven projects. I appreciate concepts from project based learning and require students to write reflections when finished with summative projects. These reflections are a part of their grade and provide vital information beyond the quantitative evidence that they may or may not have learned valuable lessons.

Bachelors in Education from Northern Illinois University Master's in Educational Technology : Leadership from Concordia University, Chicago

I started at NIU (Northern Illinois University) in 2000/2001 as a Music Education Major, Instrumental, on Flute. In the Winter of 2002, I changed my major to Elementary Education. I graduated in December, 2006 after taking additional classes including; Music Appreciation, World Music I and II, Art for El Ed Majors, PE for El Ed Majors, and Music for El Ed Majors. I completed my Master's in Education Technology : Leadership at Concordia University, Chicago at the end of Summer in 2015. I began my EdD in Instructional Design in June 2019.

I am a mother of two amazing little boys and married to an incredibly talented professional Graphic Designer / Illustrator. My family is absolutely in love with music and art, and I spend my free time reading, writing, creating and selling art, as well as soaking in all of the wonderful moments with my beautiful family. I enjoy movies while snuggled with my little Cairn Terrier named Gypsy, which is extra special since my favorite movie as a child was Wizard of Oz. We also have a sweet high energy Golden Lab / Jack Russel pup named Leia (yes, after Princess Leia). This year we added a little tabby kitten to the family, orange and white colored, adn the kiddos named him Pumpkin! I grew up in a Southwest suburb of Chicago, IL, live in Elgin, and teach in Algonquin. I have taught at the same building my entire career, and absolutely love the ups and downs of working with middle school pre-teens!