Q: What type of teacher were you before becoming principal? Who inspired you to become a principal?

A: I spent many wonderful years teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. What I loved most wasn’t just the curriculum, but the community—building relationships with families and constantly learning alongside my fellow teachers. I was lucky enough to work with incredible colleagues and an Assistant Superintendent who saw potential in me that I hadn’t yet seen in myself. I realized that while I loved my classroom, I wanted to step into a role where I could support more teachers and impact more students. Becoming a principal was my way of taking everything I loved about one classroom and scaling it up to the whole school.  I am so happy to have landed in Island Trees, where I have the privilege to serve wonderful students and families, as well as the privilege to collaborate with the incredible educators at Sparke and throughout the district.

Q: What are some challenges you encountered in your journey to becoming a principal?

A: Before entering administration, I was a teacher who loved the daily energy of being in the room with my students and witnessing those ‘lightbulb moments’ in real-time. I loved the school I worked in as well as the colleagues with whom I worked.  My first administrative job was as an elementary assistant principal in another district.  Transitioning into leadership meant adjusting to a new role; transitioning to a new school district meant adjusting to a new school community.  Building new relationships and learning the role of an AP were a priority.  Luckily, I worked with an incredible principal who served as a mentor and an amazing role model.  I quickly learned to shift my focus from my own classroom to the many ways that an administrator can support all teachers and students so that they can thrive.  Ultimately, this journey taught me that true leadership is about guiding and serving others, and that relationships are the foundation of this work. The lessons I learned as an assistant principal prepared me for the best job in the world.  Today, my greatest professional joy is in seeing our teachers and students reach milestones they didn’t think were possible.  I always say that I am the luckiest person in the world because I get to serve the teachers, students, and families of J. Fred Sparke Elementary School.

Q: How was your experience in obtaining your doctorate?

A: As a lifelong learner, I enjoyed my doctoral studies at Hofstra University.  The program involved a “deep dive” into educational leadership, consisting of three years of coursework, after which I researched and conducted a study in educational leadership.  One of the most unique parts of the experience was being a part of a “cohort” – a dedicated group of teachers and administrators who moved through the entire program together.   

I began this journey during my second year as an assistant principal, and continued it through my early years as a principal.  This meant my nights and weekends were filled with research and classes on top of my daily responsibilities at school.  While balancing that workload was definitely a challenge, it was also extremely rewarding.  The coursework and research helped me become a more thoughtful and effective leader, and the colleagues and professors I met in my cohort remain friends and mentors to this day.