What is your academic and professional background?

My academic background includes an undergraduate degree in elementary education with an emphasis in English/ Language arts from the University of Iowa. I earned my Masters Degree in Special Education from Upper Iowa University. I continued my education after my Masters,  earning an Advanced Studies certificate in PK-12 Principal / PK-12 Special Education Supervisor from UNI. Currently, I am a doctoral student in Educational Leadership at UNI. Additional certifications earned throughout my professional career include endorsements in reading, middle school generalist, special education consultant, and Strat II: LD/BD.

My teaching career started at Dunn Elementary in Houston, Texas, where I taught reading and social studies in a 4th grade classroom for 2 years. I then moved back to Iowa and taught in the Catholic School system for 3 years in a 5th/6th combined classroom at St. Paul's School in Worthington, then in 4th grade at St. Mary's School in Manchester for 2 years. I also taught in a middle school special education classroom at Maquoketa Valley in Delhi, IA for 12 years. I recently moved back into the general education classroom, where I now teach 6th grade social studies. I am also our 6th-12th grade interventionist, working with teachers who have students who are struggling academically, behaviorally, or social-emotionally, and I support teachers in their content areas through professional development opportunities. I am also an adjunct for Mount Mercy University in the areas of reading, special education, ELL, and effective teaching practices. 

What research or project are you currently/recently working on?

My current research is based on the Amish school system near my district. Amish schools are a  glimpse of the early 1900s schools functioning within the 21st century. All Amish students graduate after 8th grade and enter a vocational path. Though Amish teachers have no formal education on how to be an educator, I believe they are still effective educators based on their own experiences as a student and watching their own teachers be educators. Through my research, I hope to show that Amish teachers are effective instructors, based on observations in their classrooms and by interviewing teachers.

How did you become interested in this research?

I have always been fascinated by Amish culture and their way of living. When I was younger, my mom would drive us to an Amish bakery to get homemade apple pies for my dad. Those experiences with how the Amish lived intrigued me. While I was teaching at my district, several Amish families moved within our school district boundary but chose not to join our school district, and instead educate their own students with Amish teachers.  This is what piqued my curiosity in how their schools function and how teachers educate the children of their communities.

I knew this was something I wanted to learn more about. Since building relationships with the Bishop and several of the Amish teachers, I have had the opportunity to visit all four of the schools that are spread throughout the countryside, observe the teachers during one of their monthly collaboration times, and also attend the students' Christmas party at the school. 

What communities will this research impact and how so?

As a researcher and educator, I am always interested in other cultures and society. I think this project can benefit anyone who wants to know more about specific cultures and learn their educational perspectives, especially the role of educating youth of specific cultures (religious, lower socio-economic status, English Language Learners, gifted and talented, etc.). I think anyone interested in understanding effective teaching would be interested in knowing about the Amish school system and how they meet the needs of their learners.

How does this project equip you for your future goals?

I would like to continue writing professionally and contributing to the education field in various areas including learning about and understanding diverse populations, not only in Iowa or the U.S, but around the world. There are so many wonderful educators doing amazing things in their classroom to affect student learning. I am most interested in learning various ways teachers teach to diverse populations, and how teachers impact the lives of students. Educators need to continually learn from each other as we grow in our craft, and there is no better way to do this than to learn about something that is very different from our own experiences.

I hope that this study will broaden people's perspectives of diverse school systems and how cultures affect the learning and teaching within the classrooms and schools.