"The courage to teach is the courage to keep one’s heart open in those very moments when the heart is asked to hold more than it is able so that the teacher and the students and subject can be woven into the fabric of community that learning, and living, require" -Parker Palmer

Hello and thank you for taking the time to look at my educational portfolio. I graduated from the University of San Francisco with a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Child and Youth Studies and a Masters in Teaching. I originally set out to become a child and family counselor, but soon realized that I wanted to have an opportunity to impact the lives of children in a larger setting, and in a setting where they do not always get the support and understanding that is critical for them to succeed. Along with my resume, you will find a copy of my teaching philosophy and find that I am very passionate about the experiences I have had with young people, especially outside of the classroom. Throughout the six years I have lived in San Francisco, I have had the opportunity to work as a relief counselor at a youth crisis shelter, and found that the educational system is, unfortunately, a huge cause of distress for many young people. I have also had the amazing opportunity to teach in Dangriga, Belize during a two-week study abroad program with the University of San Francisco. In Dangriga, I realized how important education is-- I realized how fortunate students in the United States are, but also, how different we view education. Inspired by my experience in Dangriga, I moved to South Korea (with very little knowledge of the Korean language!) for a year and taught kindergarten and after school elementary to native Korean speakers. I was fully immersed in a new culutre, language, and education system. The year taught me many things-- being almost illiterate in a country provided me with an extreme amount of empathy and understanding for English Language Learners. I have taken my experiences with the youth and families that I have worked with outside of the classroom, as well as outside of the country, and have applied them to my current teaching philosophy and practices. 

Please feel free to contact me via phone or email. I can be reached at (858) 722-5852 and kellyne76@gmail.com.