Hello Cougar Family!

I was born and raised in upstate New York and moved to North Carolina in 1987. As a child, I was surrounded by Italian culture and language in the small Village of Endicott, New York. My mother was born in Pofi, Italy and came to this country when she was 12 years old. She came through Ellis Island like lots of other immigrants. My grandparents spoke very little English around me, and my grandmother never had the opportunity to learn to read or go to school. When my mother was the first young woman our family to graduate from high school, it was a big deal. When I became the first young woman in our family to go to college, that was a VERY big deal. My grandmother was so proud of me!

I graduated from the State University of New York – College at Cortland with a Master of Science - Reading Specialist (K-12) degree. Prior to that, I earned my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education (N, K-6). I also graduated with an Associate of Liberal Arts & Sciences from Broome Community College in Binghamton, NY. My minor is Studio Art, and I love to draw and paint whenever I have time. Over the years, I have taught second, third, fourth, fifth, and CCR at Apex Elementary. I have worked alongside many wonderful teachers at this school. I consider my coworkers to be my second family. I have one son and a daughter-in-law in the area. I am STILL waiting for grandchildren --- I tell my son that “SOMEDAY would be nice?!” In the meantime, I have two cats and my little maltipoo (who sometimes can be spotted licking ice cream in downtown Apex.) My dog loves children too!

I am excited about starting school and seeing the smiles in the halls.