Born in the late 60’s in Brooklyn New York  to an industrialist mother and an African Methodist Episcopal preacher, some of my most earliest memories where shaped by a sense of female independence, via education and hard work; as well as  an obligation to one’s fellow man and community. For me community was Brooklyn, New York and the surrounding boroughs; which in the late 60’s was the very definition of not only ethnic, but economic diversity. It was this expanded view of community and obligation that has been at the center of my personal beliefs and conduct at every step and stage of my life, including our families relocation to my mother’s hometown in southern Georgia when I was fourteen.

     After the completion of my high school education, I moved into the world to make my mark upon it.  I spent several years gaining what I now know to be invaluable real world experience; as both employee and entrepreneur, in various fields and callings.  This period of my life would later become a great source of personal motivation in the shaping of young lives in the class room, in preparation for what I knew/know to be the up-coming challenges they will face in the real world.

     Although I did not officially receive my teaching credentials until in my late 30’s, my path to the class room had started decades earlier during the New York City’s teachers’ strike of the 1970’s. So that our parents could maintain work schedules, myself and the other children would all stay together during the school day at various friends and families homes. The older children were expected to help the younger children with reading and writing exercises to prevent them from falling behind.  I was also a member of Future Teachers of America.  I can still see my fourth grade school picture with my Future Teacher of America badge pinned to my shirt. I never forgot this time in my life, and when it became time to move from a job to a career; education seemed as natural as a breath of air, and equally purposeful.

       Completion of my master’s degree, would further allow me to add another effective tool in the shaping of young minds; and the curriculum used to do such.  It was one of my deepest beliefs that all children are capable of learning, the only question is will they have benefit of an education professional willing to learn how and what it takes to facilitate that learning.