Our Community

I come from a family of educators—my dad was actually the principal of Plant High School for several years—and I like to say that education is in my blood. I was an educator in Hillsborough County for almost 20 years and have held elementary teaching positions in most grade levels, served as a math coach, and was assistant principal for five years. I have my master’s degree in Educational Leadership, and I am also a certified gifted teacher.

Teaching is truly my passion. I love connecting with my students, and planning and executing creative lessons. That’s really my main hobby, but in my spare time, I also enjoy riding my Peloton, reading and I look forward to traveling again in the future.

My life has been dedicated to education: from gaining my undergraduate degree at the University of South Florida and Masters of Education in Leadership at the University of Tampa to 18 years as a classroom teacher and Science Coach to spending the past 3 years as an Assistant Principal.

Inquiry-based learning has been a passion of mine throughout my 20+ years as an educator. As a parent of an STM student, I have seen firsthand the positive impact of an entire school following this model. I look forward to working alongside an amazing faculty, dynamic students and their families.

In my spare time you will definitely find me outside hunting, fishing, exploring and traveling with my wife and 2 kids and our Bernedoodle, Comet.

I graduated from the University of South Florida with a dual degree in Psychology and Mass Communications. I also hold my Master of Science degree in School Counseling.

I strive to be a supportive, reliable adult in the educational system that students can count on no matter what they need. My goal is to build a strong relationship with each and every student, and I’m passionate about social and emotional learning, specifically in the areas of empathy, coping skills, and self-esteem building. I’m excited to continue building out our school counseling program and providing students with the tools they need to be successful in and out of. the classroom.

When I’m not at STM, you can typically find me planning my next concert, cuddled up with a good novel (and my cat - he is never more than 10 feet away from me!) or thrift shopping. I will try my hand at anything crafty, especially if it gives me an excuse to use my Cricut!

"The important thing is never to stop questioning." - Albert Einstein

This will be my 20th year in education. My passion is math and science. As a child, I struggled with both subjects, only to discover it was because I was only being taught the subjects in a very traditional way and setting. I strive to provide alternative methods and hands-on experiences to build knowledge in the classroom every day. I have my Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida. Go Bulls!

When I'm not teaching, I enjoy taking cycling and yoga classes. My spouse and I are theme park enthusiasts, and enjoy the local theme parks along with the international ones! I also love traveling and spending time with my family and friends. I have a very special bearded dragon, Squiggy, who is also a part of our classroom community. He is two years old and loves to listen and watch children learn daily!

“When I grow up, I want to be a teacher.” This was always my dream since I was a little girl mostly because I had some extraordinary teachers, especially in elementary school, that really ignited this passion in me. I still think about those special teachers and the impact they had on me. I have always hoped I would be THAT teacher for my students, a teacher they fondly remember, long after elementary school. Forming connections with my students, helping them discover and build on their strengths, and creating life-long learners are some of the reasons why I love being a teacher.

My passion became a reality when I graduated from the University of Tampa with my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education as well as my ESOL and reading endorsement. I then went back to UT to get my Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. I have been a teacher in Hillsborough County for 10 years and I have always been passionate about reading. There’s nothing better than helping my students build their love for reading.

Other passions and hobbies of mine include going on adventures with my dog Luna, going to the beach with a good book, going to an Orange Theory class, or spending time with friends and family. I also love to travel, so I’m usually planning my next trip!

Transformation has been a reoccurring theme I’ve embraced in my life for as long as I can remember, so needless to say I’m thrilled to join the STM community in my 19th year teaching.

I grew up in the small town of Wilmington, Delaware, until attending college at the University of Tampa. While there, I earned a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.

The first 18 years of my career in Hillsborough County Public Schools provided invaluable lessons in professional and personal growth, however my teaching philosophy mirrors that of STM and I look forward to the opportunity where I can practice the holistic teaching approach I’ve always believed in.

My husband and I have three children along with our four-year-old Havenese, Papa. In our free time, we love spending time outside and traveling any chance we get. My personal hobbies include gardening, cooking, audiobooks, home improvement projects and thrifting.

Helping children learn has always been a passion of mine, from “playing school” with my sisters and brother in my youth, to babysitting and working with children at church and in preschools as a young adult. This inspired me to pursue a career in teaching. I believe education includes teaching the WHOLE child-not just academics, but developing their social and emotional intelligence as well. Developmentally appropriate, play-based learning where children have the opportunity to be creative, hands-on, and learn the social skills necessary to thrive in life is at the core of my philosophy.

I received my bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Florida State University, and I hold a teaching certificate in the state of Florida, with an ELL and Reading Endorsement additionally. I have taught 19 years; one in first grade, and the last 18 in Kindergarten. I’ve been married to my husband Tony for 27 years. We have 3 sons and a wonderful daughter-in-law (who also teaches kindergarten). You will usually find me spending time with them on the weekends, and I LOVE Seminoles football-one of the many reasons FALL is my favorite season. I love decorating, especially for the holidays! Reading with a nice cup of hot tea or taking walks is my idea of relaxing. I enjoy binge-watching Netflix and hanging out with our family and friends for Game Night. My favorite place to travel is the mountains, although I love quick getaways to the beach or historic places too!

At a young age, I discovered my passion for education. From playing school with my dolls to babysitting the neighborhood kids to working in a gym nursery in high school, I knew teaching was what I was meant to do.

I graduated from the University of Florida, Go Gators, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising and a minor in Elementary Education. My husband’s military career at the time relocated us to Savannah where I decided to pursue my dream of teaching. I taught 1st and 4th grades while obtaining a Master’s Degree in Special Education. I shifted my focus towards ESE and taught in an inclusive setting for K-5th grades. A few years later, we moved to New Orleans where I worked for Special Olympics Louisiana before returning back to my hometown of Tampa. For the past 7 years I’ve been a stay at home mom (aka Uber driver, homeroom parent, boo boo fixer, cheerleader, etc) to my two beautiful children, Kendall and Austin.

Outside of working with this amazing school and team, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, Gator and Lightning games, exercising, and cooking with an occasional nap squeezed in.

There is nothing in the Universe that I enjoy more than sparking imagination in little minds, helping students establish a love for life-long learning, encouraging self-love and acceptance, motivating them, and watching as they discover the “ah-ha” moments each and every day. For over 20 years I have had the amazing opportunity to work with children as a classroom teacher, tutor, mentor and storyteller. Born and raised in Chicago, I’m proud to say I am a “Chicagoan” and still call it home, even though I’ve lived in Tampa since 2008. I attended Purdue University in Indiana, just two hours and a few dozen cornfields away from my home, and received my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a certification to teach grades pre-K through fifth grade.

A wise man in a red sweater once said- “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.” My two children remind me every day the importance of play, as well as our mischievous tabby cat, Ewan McGregor. At home you might find us cranking up the music and having our very own dance party. I love a good game night with family, attending my kiddo’s sports activities, volunteering with JDRF as an outreach mentor, yoga, travel, coffee, animals, and I am a HUGE lover of reading (picture books are my jam) which is how my Books with Miss B story time channel for little humans came to be. In Chicago when it snows you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels. I’m the snow angel type, even as a big human.

I grew up in Elmhurst, Illinois. My childhood was spent rooting on my Chicago Bulls with my family and trips to Chicago and Lake Michigan on the weekends. Eventually I grew tired of the cold and attended the University of Tampa with my sister, Allie. I graduated in 2013 with my degree in Elementary Education. Additionally, I am certified in Applied Positive Psychology.

In my personal life, I am passionate about bringing yoga and mindfulness to children through my business, Karamia Yoga. I am a dog mom to my Mini Sheepadoodle, Bernie, who accompanies me on walks, visiting coffee shops, and cuddling on the beach. I love spending time adventuring and exploring new places with my friends and family.

As a child, school was never my favorite place to be. I felt anxious and sad leaving my Mom, and the pacing of lessons seemed too fast for me to fully understand what was being taught. That experience led me to my passion of teaching to help be the educator that I always wanted growing up.

Specifically, I believe in fostering an environment where students feel inspired to express their authentic self in a setting that promotes the expression of values, listening, and communication. Students in my classroom will be greeted with a warm smile and happy-loving energy to start their days. Once inside the classroom, that is where the fun begins! We love to sing, laugh, dance, create art, read, explore, use our imagination, and spread kindness during our time together!

I am so thrilled to be with South Tampa Microschool helping to ensure that the students have a positive learning experience in a safe and warm environment!

I absolutely love teaching because students inspire me! Finding ways to guide students in acquiring knowledge while creating a active and constructive environment is a joy. I am passionate about the Reggio teaching philosophy because the student focus and high level of engagement produces exceptional content mastery. My desire is for students to be empowered learners in the classroom and the world beyond.

I completed a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education from Arizona State University and went on to earn a Masters Degree in Psychology and an Associates Degree in Project Management. I have taught theater for elementary students, 7th grade and Freshman level history, and have had the pleasure of being at STM as a substitute teacher. My daughter, husband and I are just finishing our first year in Florida from Ohio, so we spend much of our time exploring all of the unique activities Florida offers. In my free time I really enjoy exercise, reading, playing board games, and a cup of tea.  

I am excited to be part of this wonderful school again this year. I have been a preschool teacher for over 15 years. My teaching experience began at the J.C.C. My passion for teaching was reawakened when I was given the opportunity to run a pod in 2019 for kindergarteners. Along with teaching, I also tutor young children and teach Spanish. My passion is creating a stimulated child-centered environment which promotes each students' developmental areas. I love to provide an environment in which students’ curiosity can flourish. I believe engaging the child with nature daily as it allows them to make effective connections to their environment.

When I’m not working, I enjoy the company of family and friends. I enjoy going for bike rides, nature walks, cooking, and traveling.

I have always loved working with children! There is just something magical about it. My main focus is creating an environment that allows them to experiment and learn about the world around them. I want to open them up to new ways of thinking and innovative problem solving. I have two amazing girls that have both taught me different ways to approach teaching and life. I want everyone to feel included and an important part of our class. My hope would be they leave my classroom with confidence, friendships and excitement!

I come from a family of six children (I am number four) and love it! My sister and I taught my younger brother to read at the youngest of age at our “school” that is very similar to STM. I spent my teenage years babysitting and volunteering in the church nursery as much as possible. I always loved being around young children. I am actively working on obtaining my Early Childhood Certificate.

I grew up in England, gained my A Levels and went to College to be a Legal Executive.

I have been a stay at home Mum for the past ten years while we navigated the military life and moved from England to Tampa. I spent a lot of time volunteering and set up a Private Organization to help pregnant military spouses. Most of all, I loved being with my children.

Outside of school, I love spending time with my two amazing boys. I enjoy working out, the beach, Lightning games, and spending time with friends.

My heart has always been passionate about teaching little humans ever since I can remember. I started volunteering at 15 years old. I went to Learey Technical College and received my Associates in Early Childhood Education.

I pursued early childhood education for the personal reward and happiness that it brings to me as I watch my students grow into little adults.

I tutored younger elementary students and nannied for years. I was also a lead teacher at Amy Gail Buchman Preschool for 8 years. I love art, especially charcoal drawings, pastels and painting.

In my spare time, I love to spend time with my husband and family. We love to have cookouts, travel, and host game nights. I also love mudding in my ATV and Jeep.

I am a proud mom to my two son’s, my youngest is a 4 year old in his second year at STM and my oldest a 6 year old will be starting 1st grade next door at Adum. My husband, children and I moved to Tampa in June of 2022, relocating from Cleveland, Ohio joining the STM community last year. I have been a stay at home mom for the past 6 years, prior to that I worked at a restaurant, a swimming pool, and a group home for teenage girls.

For most of my life I’ve worked with kids in one way or another whether nannying, teaching swim lessons or as direct care staff. I grew up in Portland, Oregon (a place very near and dear to my heart) and I graduated with a bachelors from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio (ions ago) where I majored in Philosophy and minored in Africana studies. In my free time I like to be with my family, be outside, do art, read, go to the beach, travel and spend time with friends. Looking forward to meeting you and your kiddos at STM!