About me

I grew up in the Southside of Williamsburg and am forever grateful to have been raised in the city. I grew up in a close knit community and my childhood memories can be traced to riding bikes to the pier with my cousins, playing soccer during summer weekends, and outings to the city to explore museums, watch movies, buy books at the Strand, and shop! My experiences working with children began while I was in high school in Park Slope. I volunteered for a reading program in the area and tutored Kindergarten students with developing reading skills. I then began to babysit for two different families in the neighborhood with children in the same age group- 6 years of age. My responsibilities included picking up the children from school, taking them to different after school activities, feeding them, and playing with them.

In college, I worked at the local library and tutored students in elementary school. I was working in a socially disadvantaged neighborhood and my ability to communicate and contribute something to the families here ultimately led me to pursue a degree in Early Childhood, Elementary Education, and Spanish. I was able to gain vast experiences in my undergrad degree by student teaching across different suburban and urban areas in New York.

Upon finishing my degree, I began teaching UPK in Bushwick. Once the school year was over, I started working as a nanny, where I cared for twin boys who had just turned 5 and a girl who was 11 years old at the time. My responsibilities included light housework, picking up the children from school, supervising play dates, helping with homework, and most importantly providing love and friendship. Once that family moved, I moved to the mountains of Peru and volunteered with an orphanage. I lived in a home with children ages 7-17, who had experienced heavy traumas in their lives. I worked closely with the directors and provided assistance in the home, from cooking, gardening, food shopping, homework help, supervision, to behavior management. This was one of the most insightful and enlightening experiences of my life, as I was able to learn more about my culture and gain a deeper and more appreciative relationship with the natural world through the relationships I made with the community.

I then worked as an elementary school teacher in Brooklyn for 4 years and finished my Masters in Early Childhood & Bilingual Education at Hunter College. I recently just came back home from the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru, where I was living for two and a half years. During my time there, I also gained experience working in an IB school and doing remote tutoring, amongst other things. I have gained vast knowledge on child development, as well as the importance of expanding my own personal growth. My experiences have always encouraged my learning and my being.

Though these experiences have allowed me to gain valuable insight on child development, some of the most valuable learning I make from working with children is the act of staying present. As adults, with so many things to accomplish or worry about, it can be difficult to live in the present moment. Children allow the opportunity to be present, which creates so much joy and harmony within our surroundings. My teaching experiences have taught me a great deal on academics, management, collaborating with others, and how important it is to attend to the whole child. I strongly believe in the importance of play as a way to develop language, social & emotional skills, as well as critical thinking. I also believe that strong relationships are built on respect, which is earned through active listening and a genuine care for the individual. I always make it my mission to validate children and help guide them. It is extremely important for children to develop a strong sense of self and identity in conjunction to others.

Aside from teaching, I am very committed to my family and providing them with the care that is needed. As a New York City native, I am also very committed to contributing to my neighborhood. I have a strong desire to learn from others and in my own personal growth.