7+8 ELA & Humanities — Morganton Day School

Curriculum Coordinator

After more than twenty years in the classroom, I am excited to start a new educational journey as Morganton Day School's Curriculum Coordinator.

My path here wasn't a straight line. I taught English in South Korea, volunteered at a boarding school in Ghana, worked as a live-in nanny in New Zealand, and spent time as a youth counselor on cruise ships in Hawaii and the Caribbean. It was in Beirut, Lebanon, teaching kindergarten at my first International Baccalaureate World School, that I became passionate about the curriculum framework that has shaped my teaching and leadership ever since. From there, I taught 1st grade in Torreón, Mexico, where I met my husband, before my final international stop teaching kindergarten in Santiago, Chile.

My husband and I made North Carolina our permanent home in 2016. Over the next 10 years at another independent IB PYP school, I moved through classroom roles from 1st through 4th grade, then into co-curricular instruction and leadership. My passion for STEM had always shown up in my classroom and in my work with colleagues as a Technology Coach, so building a STEM program from the ground up and becoming a STEM instructor surprised absolutely no one who knows me.

Originally from St. Louis, MO, I earned my degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Missouri and later completed my Master's degree in Special Education there as well. Outside of school, I love reading, movies, and a competitive game of pickleball. My husband, our two boys (both MDS students), our two spoiled pups, and I are all excited about our new life in Morganton.

I have a deep commitment to inquiry-driven, student-centered learning and am eager to lead the development and ongoing growth of Morganton Day School's curriculum, working closely with this amazing faculty to align teaching practices and support students' growth as inquirers and problem-solvers. I believe that learning is experience, that every child deserves a classroom built around curiosity, voice, and real-world connection. I am excited to be a Titan and look forward to being part of the MDS community!