Staff Directory

I was born and raised in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. I've taught English and Spanish in Mexico and the United States in grades 1 to 12. The Dual Immersion program in California showed me the many advantages of bilingual education. During my free time, I enjoy cooking, dancing, and singing. I love to practice different languages from around the world while traveling. This is my third year at Pine Lake Prep sharing the journey with a lovely community, inspiring staff, and very talented students. Let's change the world through global learning!

I'm a Pennsylvania native, but I attended college and graduate school in Virginia. Right after graduating from UVA in 2006, I moved to the Washington DC area and started my teaching career in Fairfax County Public Schools. Weeks after my son was born in 2011, my family moved to North Carolina and we settled in Huntersville. After surviving a busy decade of juggling babies and toddlers, I'm fortunate to now have 3 children at Pine Lake and I've been on staff since 2021. Outside of the classroom, you can find me enjoying the craziness of life with my family, watching a multitude of kid sports, exercising in my garage and, when I'm lucky, reading in my backyard hammock.

“For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quite or excite you. Books to help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.” – Anne Lamott  

A gift I was born with is best described as teaching. I am an artist, maker, teacher, coach, partner, problem solver, mentor, and friend who feels that life is about connection. I’m well versed in gaining insight from unsuspecting resources and life experiences. My teaching super power is  that I learn in front of my audience, making students feel safe when vulnerable. I find authentic reasons to praise, (and do so often). 

Statements you may hear me say, “Have an opinion, but be sure it’s an educated one.” I feel that diversity is to be discovered, considered, discussed, and studied in the art culture and we do so by “Reading” works of art before judgment. It is through foreign (and familiar) fundamentals that we lead, and are led, to newfound awareness that encourages connection and confidence in our human family. 

Technique and fundamentals are incorporated into layered thoughtful exercises in class. 

Favorite Quotes:

1- “EARTH WITHOUT ART IS JUST… EH.” ~Unknown

2- “A line is a dot that went for a walk.” ~Paul Klee

Hello! I am originally from Buffalo, New York. Go Bills! I have been teaching in North Carolina since 2005. I have always said that I am one of the lucky ones because I knew right away what I wanted to be when I grew up, a teacher. Thanks to my first grade teacher, Mrs. Valentine, and my Math teacher/coach, Mr. Clark, I fell in love with learning & teaching. I am passionate about my chosen professional and thankful that I get to teach and inspire a love for learning in others. I am blessed to be part of the PLP community!

I firmly believe that learning never ends. I try to instill the same values in my students and help them discover more about themselves, others, and the world around them through literature. My goal is for students to determine that learning is fun, exciting, and an adventure!

My philosophy on education is that all students can learn when given access to the tools they need to succeed.

Growing up I was always "that" student helping the teachers, organizing materials, or working with other students who needed help.  As I grew older this passion for helping grew into a passion for education.  After highschool I knew I wanted to work as an educator and attended Appalachian State University.  Since then I have worked with preschoolers through middle schoolers and all the way to coaching teachers in instruction.  With all of this, I have realized that my passion lies in keeping the spark of learning alive at all ages.  I am excited to bring this passion to PLP and share my love of learning with students/families here! 

I was born in Venezuela and have been living in the USA for the past 17 years.

Every turn in my personal and professional path has been molded by bilingualism. So, I truly believe that learning a second language is a valuable asset and a wonderful gift to give our children.

In the Spanish immersion classroom, we set the stage so that our students want to learn in two languages, read books in two languages, play in two languages.

My dream is that our bilingual students would one day want to venture out to enjoy twice as many places and serve twice as many people around the world.