Go-to-school snack: Grapes with lime and Coca Cola

My favorite part of the day: When a student comes in and I’m able to give them hope for whatever they are going through.

A student moment that always makes me smile: I have a student who I have worked with since his sophomore year and he is now a senior. He makes me smile because he was getting into trouble last year and now he has completely turned things around. He has matured greatly since last year and he has enlisted in the military and is scheduled to leave shortly after graduation.

What “showing up” means to me: Being present for my students means that I don’t always have to have an answer or fix a problem. Sometimes, I must sit and listen to what the student is saying. They are not always looking for a solution but they want to know that they are being heard and that their feelings matter.

One thing I hope every student knows: How much I love them and care about them. I want them to know that the same expectations I have for my own children, I have for them and I want to see them all succeed. I also want them to know that my office is a safe space for them to share their feelings without being
judged.