Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a native Floridian. I am married to a firefighter and we have two children. My son Brian is a sixth-grader at Gulfview Middle and my daughter Delaney is in fourth grade at Lake Park Elementary. I enjoy spending time with my family. We like outdoor activities such as traveling, boating, fishing, and relaxing at the beach.
What’s your background in education?
I graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership. I have twenty years’ experience in education and have worked in 7 Collier County public schools in various roles such as teacher, math coach, reading coach, assistant principal, and principal. I have supervised teachers of Head Start and Florida Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) Programs and have supported and supervised pre-kindergarten teachers. I have a solid understanding of early childhood education and community resources to serve at-risk children and their families.
What are you most looking forward to in the new school year?
I am looking forward to staff working together as a supportive community to nurture warm relationships among children, staff, and parents. I want to maintain a positive school climate to support a high-quality education while working diligently to make certain Fun Time Academy is the best place to work and learn. Children thrive when there is consistency in care between home and school. I look forward to working with parents to build a collaborative partnership between home and school and to develop community partnerships so we can all work together to guarantee student success.
What are you going to bring to Fun Time that someone else couldn’t?
I consider myself a servant leader and believe in empowering others to share in the leadership of the school. It is important to me to have an open-door policy so I can listen and get input from others in order to work together to make student-centered decisions. Communication, trust, promoting morale and performance, and motivating others through enthusiasm and a shared vision are my strengths. I will work hard to be visible, accessible, and collaborative with all stakeholders. I consider myself a leader of leaders and realize that the best solutions come from working together to ensure that students’ knowledge, skills, and confidence to do well and develop a drive to learn that they will take with them throughout their time in school.
What’s your personal motto or mindset going into the year?
I am committed to quality teaching and learning for all students. Working together with staff to create a safe, positive school learning environment that nurtures children’s creativity and curiosity through active learning experiences is something I am eager to do. I look forward to developing long-term relationships with students, staff, parents, and the community so we can ensure students are receiving the best education possible. Preschool provides a foundation for learning, both socially and academically.
What are you most looking forward to?
I look forward to hearing children singing, learning rhymes and working in a child-centered classroom that provides meaningful opportunities for children to make friends, cooperate, listen, learn through play and discovery, and build foundational skills. Preschool children learn skills that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. It is exciting to work together with all stakeholders to ensure children receive a strong preschool education in language skills, listening comprehension, attention management skills, and a positive attitude toward learning. Watching children acquire skills, build their confidence and self-esteem, and develop a love for learning in a safe, loving environment is rewarding. I am excited for the opportunity to be the Executive Director at Fun Time Academy!