Why do I tutor and teach?

I began tutoring because students (or their parents) asked me to help them with Spanish. This usually occurs after the topic of anything related to Spanish comes up and my face lights up. I say something like, "Did you know that I studied in Spain? I would love to help you!" I truly enjoy helping kids to be the best they can be. That is true for my own children and for the children I have the privilege to work with in schools in the Pittsburgh area.

At my core, I am an encourager and a teacher. I am the product of much encouragement and love from my family. I also enjoyed an excellent education from teachers who genuinely cared about my success. Shout out to W.V.W! I am forever grateful to my family and teachers for cheering me on in a huge way! That is why I say yes to tutoring and teaching kids in our community.

Please allow me to share some of my Spanish experiences with you.

• When I was a child my aunt studied abroad in Madrid and returned with lots of exciting stories.

• Two weeks before my sophomore year in high school started, I received a call from the school office. My schedule would not allow me to take both Latin III and Orchestra class. Bummer (I had been playing the violin since the 4th grade)! Spanish it is.

• Three years of Spanish with
  "Señor" and I was hooked!

• While an undergrad at The University of Pittsburgh, I chose Spanish for my minor (my major was Religious Studies) and researched study abroad options. Spain was calling.

• I spent the fall semester of my senior year in Sevilla. Every Sunday over the phone my dad asked if I would really return home because it sounded like I was loving life in Spain. I was.

• Because Pitt required seniors to finish their last semester at Pitt, I returned to Oakland for my last semester, but vowed to return to Spain.

• I was thrilled to return to Spain for a vacation with my sister and to co-lead an educational tour. Both times I visited my study abroad host family.

• I did extensive substitute teaching for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District before they hired me to teach high school Spanish levels I, II, and III.

• For 2 years I tutored a weekly High School Spanish study group at a local café.

• I co-led a high school group from Charlotte to Spain for an 8-day educational tour.

• I taught Spanish for one year in a K-8 private school in Vermont.

• While serving a church in Westport, Connecticut, my husband and I ventured to rural Mexico to research options for a youth mission trip.

• I led a group of 30 high school students and adults to Veracruz and Oaxaca for a week-long mission trip. Our group restored a village church and led a camp for the children. We celebrated in Mexico City for a day at the end of this trip. I did so much translating on this trip that I lost my voice; it was so worth it!

• I have taught Spanish in Pittsburgh area preschools. For young children, discovering a new language is fun and learning it is easy. Now I get to see their faces light up when they sing and speak to each other in their new-found language.

• I have taught Spanish for Lingua Stars which provides highly interactive lessons for elementary students.