Welcome to Brightside Online Learning
Learn more about me and my background
I moved to Lafayette, Colorado in May of 2020 and made the decision to work directly with children and families supporting the many needs and challenges of the distance learning environment during the pandemic. I believe in the power of support and guidance to make distance learning accessible and joyful for children and I’m committed to providing learning experiences in ways that nurture growth and development, stoke curiosity, and activate critical thinking skills. The support I am offering your child cultivates a positive and meaningful relationship with learning and prevents interruptions threatened by the pandemic.
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Education from California University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix, and my professional teaching certifications include PK-4, ELA 7-12, and ESL PK-12 in the states of Colorado, California, and Pennsylvania. I’m also trained in mindful meditation, receiving instruction through the Mindful Schools program and am a certified yoga teacher (RYT-200).
I’m passionate about education and have had the privilege of working with children ages 6-18 for over 15 years. My first teaching role was in the San Francisco Unified School District from 2005-2017 where I taught both English Language Arts and English as a Second Language. I learned quickly that building a relationship of trust and respect with my children created the strong foundation of our learning community. I took on endeavors beyond the role of classroom teacher including establishing mindful meditation programs at multiple schools in the district, providing professional development and teacher education opportunities for my fellow educators, starting a debate team at my school through the Bay Area Urban Debate League, working with my dear colleague as co-coach to develop our school’s Cross Country team, offering free after school yoga classes convincing our football and basketball players to attend (they loved it!), and more. I passionately believe in the power and value of the work I do which keeps me grounded in my primary purpose as an educator: to advocate for students while supporting and nurturing their academic and emotional growth.
I also have experience in higher education working closely with the Director of Institutional Research and Assessment offering instructional coaching services to faculty members. I worked closely with professors, helping them make sense of research and assessment data to guide their course development and improve their instructional practices. This experience expanded my awareness of using assessments, tests, and quizzes not only as a tool to identify students’ growth and achievement, but to humbly reflect on and improve my own teaching practices. I am a lifelong learner who embraces being a ‘work in progress’ and whether they’re in the classroom, on a team, or on their yoga mats, my students appreciate my honesty and humility. They let me guide them and in turn, they offer me guidance.
“I passionately believe in the power and value of the work I do which keeps me grounded in my primary purpose as an educator: to advocate for students while supporting and nurturing their academic and emotional growth.”
Arya and Webster are my two furry friends. Arya is a Belgain Malinois who is always looking for something fun to do and Webster is a Boxer mix who loves rolling around in the grass. They both enjoy hiking adventures, camping trips, and swimming in Coal Creek. I enjoy taking photos of them on our adventures, here are a few of my favorites:
I love exploring and adventuring, especially if it includes nature, and I have a big list of places I want to go. My dream is to visit all 62 of the National Parks in the U.S. with Yellowstone and The Grand Tetons being the highest on my list. Colorado is such a special place to live with plenty of nearby adventures to enjoy and since I’m so new here I would love some suggestions from you! Here are a few of the National Parks I’ve gotten to visit:
Grand Canyon National Park
Arches National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
The current environment of distance learning has created a plethora of challenges for children, parents, and educators. My role is to serve as part of the support system to ensure your child is not only receiving quality learning experiences during this time, but also growing and advancing as a student. With each child and family having specific needs, I am offering a variety of services to support the at-home learning environment for children and families. I will work closely with you to identify and develop a structured plan that goes beyond tutoring to nurture a holistic learning experience.
Below are some of the packages available, you can also contact me to setup a custom plan to fit your needs
Enhance distance learning for your child with daily contact including one-to-one instruction, lessons, tutoring, and oversight with parent support available with each session
Learn moreReceive guidance and support where you need it in all aspects of distance learning including informational walk-throughs of the distance learning classroom, technical support, homeschooling curriculum, and more
Learn moreYou’ll have a personal teacher with the services of both Learning Support & Tutoring and Parent Support plus individualized curriculum, daily online instruction, detailed progress reports, and more
Learn moreFor more information or to create a custom plan, please connect with me using the form below.