April 16, 2026
As I approach my eighth year as an elementary educator, I have had the privilege of working with young learners across multiple grade levels but, third grade will always hold a special place in my heart. Since I began working at BASIS Independent Bellevue I have been both a Learning Expert Teacher and a Subject Expert Teacher for grade 3. Being on both sides of the Co-Teaching Model has offered me great perspective and there is something truly special about this age. My students are curious, empathetic, and beginning to understand the world not just through academics, but through perspective and relationships to others.
I’ve learned in my career that there are many lessons taught in a classroom that are not found in a curriculum. Education goes far beyond reading, writing, and math.
My Story
Outside of the classroom, I am also a skater. Movement and skating have been a meaningful part of my life for years, especially at skate parks where I find both challenge and joy. Before my injury, I was a roller skater, and as I adapted over time, I transitioned to inline skating. Returning to skating in new ways has reminded me that identity is not fixed it evolves with us, and that joy can be rediscovered even after change. Skating continues to be an important outlet for me, grounding me in resilience, creativity, and movement beyond the classroom.
In 2021, my journey as an educator took an unexpected turn when I experienced an injury that would quietly shape the next few years of my life. At the time, I didn’t yet have a diagnosis or fully understand what my body was going through—I just knew I was in pain. Despite this, I continued showing up each day for my students, navigating the classroom with a persistent ache in my ankle, and continuing to skate outside of school. I was working diligently to hold onto the many things that bring me joy.
It wasn’t until 2023 that I was formally diagnosed with post-traumatic ankle arthritis, giving clarity to the challenges I had been facing for years. Arthritis is a condition that can develop after injury and can affect people at many stages of life. Millions of individuals, including young and active people, live with arthritis every day. It is silent to the naked eye but causes an array of challenges.
The Impact
Looking back, those years required a level of perseverance I didn’t always recognize in the moment. I adapted as best as I could. At times using a cane, a knee scooter, or carrying a stool throughout the day, while continuing to create a positive, supportive classroom environment. Following my diagnosis, I began consistently using a prosthetic orthotic device, which has allowed me to move more safely, comfortably, and independently while staying fully present in the classroom with my students.
Despite these challenges, I remained committed to showing up for my students with positivity, resilience, and care. Over time, I regained mobility and now use a Orthotic leg device daily, allowing me to move comfortably around the classroom and stay fully engaged with my students.
What I did not expect was how deeply this experience would impact them.
My third graders began to notice, ask questions, and most importantly, respond with empathy. They learned that not all challenges are visible and that people experience the world in different ways. Through this, they developed a deeper understanding of kindness, patience, and inclusion—lessons not taught through a textbook, but through lived experience.
Teaching with a disability has reinforced my belief that the classroom is not just a place for academic growth, it is a space where character is built. When children are given the opportunity to understand and connect, they rise with incredible empathy. The journey has brought real challenges, but it has also brought growth, perspective, and a deeper understanding of resilience. I continue to teach and skate. I am adapting while staying connected to the things that bring meaning and joy to my life.
Every day in the classroom is a reminder that children learn not only from instruction, but from the environment we create together; the kindness they experience, the respect they witness, and the way they are made to feel.
For families, I want to offer sincere reassurance:
Your child is deeply valued in our classroom community. I am committed to supporting them academically, socially, and emotionally in an environment grounded in care, respect, and encouragement.
Through my own experiences, I have learned that resilience is not about avoiding challenges, but about continuing forward with strength, adaptability, and awareness. That is the same resilience I hope to nurture in every child, so they leave our classroom not only prepared for what comes next, but confident in their ability to navigate it.
