"Teaching offers me an opportunity to learn from children and keep that spark..."

Hometown

Hawai'i Island, HI

Department

Special Education

Related Degrees

• BEd in Special Education

Why did you choose to become a teacher, in general?

I love to see the light that comes into children’s eyes when they learn something new. Children are amazingly resilient and give me hope that the future will not be as bleak as everyone wants to believe. Teaching offers me an opportunity to learn from children and keep that spark, that is the love of learning, alive and well within myself.

Why did you choose to become licensed in special education?

I have two children with special needs and one who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum when he was very young. We did not know if he would ever speak and he struggled with a variety of behaviors stemming from sensory processing difficulties. It was a very hard time for us, but I learned to live each day being happy for the days accomplishments. He is now 14 and is able to communicate very well with high academic achievement and talents that astound me. I want to help students and their families know that they are not alone and to celebrate each step on their children’s journey. I am in special education because I believe all children deserve to have educators who will help them to strive for their best and be patient along the way.

Why do you feel it is important to have diversity in the classroom?

We live in a diverse world. With new technological advancements the gap between peoples of the world is getting smaller and smaller, yet we are ever divided. Diversity helps us to broaden our view and encourages empathy and kindness. The old adage that knowledge is power also applies to the authentic knowledge that can come from diversity in the classroom. Teachers and students from varying cultures, with varying abilities, from various socio-economic backgrounds, all bring powerful experiences and stories that can be a powerhouse of learning in a classroom. When society learns to embrace diversity, the need for war will cease. We can foster that type of thinking when students and teachers alike are exposed to diverse populaces with different lived experiences.