Q: Please tell us a bit about yourself and your family.
I was born and raised in Bucks County. I graduated from Pennsbury High School and married my high school sweetheart. I went to Temple for my first year of college and majored in international business. I quickly realized that was not where my heart was. I loved kids and wanted to be in education. I feel so lucky that I found the thing that sets my soul on fire. I moved back to the area after my year at Temple and finished my degree at Holy Family University. My husband Alex and I met during our senior year of high school and have been together for almost 20 years now, married for 14. He works in the medical field with Capital Health. We have settled our family in the Yardley area. We have 2 boys who are not so little anymore. They are 10 and 11. My oldest son is a bit of an alternative sport fan. He plays golf with First Tee in New Jersey. Both of my boys also do Ninja in Lawrence, NJ. All 3 of us do strength training at Underlying Strength in Yardley.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career.
I began my career teaching in the classroom and did that for 9 years. I loved teaching so much. Teaching was my dream job growing up and being in the classroom truly set my soul on fire. As I progressed through the years I noticed the gaps in terms of how I was meeting the needs of my students. I took time off before and during the pandemic which gave me an opportunity to explore those gaps, especially as I helped my own kids through school at home. After the pandemic I took some time to decide if I would be going back into the classroom. While I was reflecting, a great opportunity fell into my lap to help some former student’s families of mine work through their child’s education. This began my path into advocacy.
Now I am an educational consultant. I do special education advocacy. I work with parents to help them navigate their kid’s journey in the school system. Whether the child is having trouble in school, needs to be identified with special needs, or are working through transitions. I am a bit of a jack of all trades in the education field. I am not limited to doing just one thing. Some of the families I work with don’t have children with special needs at all, they just want someone to walk through the journey with them and help accomplish their goals.
When I partner with a family I will work with them for as long as they need. Some families bring me back year after year and some just need me for a short time. I am usually working with families on a goal to goal basis. My goal is to get a really strong IEP in place for families so they can feel empowered and confident doing things themselves. I have been really encouraged seeing that education is evolving to really include the parents more. They have such a vital role. I spend a lot of time encouraging them to trust their gut, ask their questions, use their voice because it is significant and it matters. I love seeing us bridge that gap of communication better. I don’t want to be a crutch for people, I want to teach people how to fly on their own. I also know that parenting is so hard sometimes and if I can make one thing a little bit easier for parents I jump at the chance. It doesn’t hurt that I have experience from the teaching perspective and have so many personal connections with our local schools.
Q: What do you love most about what you do?
I love that I help empower parents to find their voice and advocate for their children. I really think there is something special about teaching parents to trust their instincts. I feel like the proudest mama bird at even the smallest moments as I watch these parents grow in their confidence and take control.
Q: What is a “Must do” for someone visiting our community?
We love Robert’s Ridge Playground. We spent a ton of time there when my kids were younger. Tyler State Park is another outside area we love around here. We also love a lot of restaurants around here. Zebra Striped Whale is a must. If my kids are willing to have boujee dinner we will go to Rocco’s. We also spend a lot of time at La Stalla, The Green Parrot, and Iron Hill.
Q: What is your favorite place you have ever traveled and where do you want to go next?
We just recently went to Hawaii and it was such an awe inspiring experience. I felt like we were living in a postcard. It was magnificent. That is my favorite place we have ever been. The place I really want to go to is Italy. It is something I have always wanted to do mainly because I am a foodie. Who wouldn’t want to immerse themselves in pizza, pasta, and desserts?
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I am a huge Harry Potter and Indiana Jones fan. My son really loves Star Wars so we watch a lot of that in our house as well. I am also into whatever the next Netflix show is. I really liked My Life with the Walter Boys.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
I truly believe that everybody has a very special gift to give to society. I feel as educators it is our job to help kids find what that spark is and to believe in themselves. So my advice: you matter. You are important and you have a unique gift that can change this world. It is time that you believe in yourself. Our world would not be the same without you and your special gifts. Find the thing that you can give back to society and use it.
Q: What is your favorite band or music genre?
I listen to a bit of everything. Classical, rock, 80’s and 90’s classics. I don’t have one specific genre that I love more than the others. I just really love music.
Q: If you could choose anyone, alive or dead; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I would pick my dad. He passed away a few years ago. I look back now in his absence at everything he taught me and I would love to have a more in depth discussion with him about all of those things. I would love to reflect on a wonderful life well lived and all of the gifts he gave me wrapped in a great childhood. He always made me feel safe as a kid and young adult to make mistakes in life. He taught me that sometimes you have to fall on your face to realize that you don’t want to be on your face. I would probably take him to Rocco’s.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
That is a great question. Part of me has always played with the idea of maybe going to law school. I also jump around to the idea of getting my degree in counseling. I honestly have no idea where I will be in 10 years. I hope to still have a foothold in this community. I would also love to see more of a partnership with the schools and my business in the coming years.
Q: What is something interesting that most people may not know about you?
I was one of the founding members of the girls lacrosse team at Pennsbury Highschool. We had to go through the whole title 9 process to have equality for women and mens sports. I have been advocating in one way or another I guess my whole life. I love sports and the community it builds.
Q: What is your favorite holiday and why?
I love Christmas because I have kids and seeing the magic through their eyes is so special. I also love Memorial Day. There is something about the start of the summer and the excitement that it brings. There is also a slightly slower pace and it is just a great time to get people together.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My kids! They inspire me because the moment that I am not better they are the ones I think of immediately. I think about how my actions look to them and affect them. I really strive to teach them the balance between “I am good enough” and “I can still do better”. They also teach me that continually in the sweetest ways.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
I love eucalyptus and peppermint, they are so refreshing. I also love a good vanilla cinnamon mix in the winter. I love how snuggly that combination feels.
Q: What words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Central, safe, community
Q: Where can people find you or your business?