Education Background: I graduated from Perry Meridian in 2002 and attended Marian College on a soccer scholarship. Right out of college I was an aide at Homecroft in second grade. I loved being an aide, but wanted to use my degree in Psychology so I worked for a therapeutic foster care agency as a case manager. I later completed a transition to teaching program and worked at a charter school for a few years before coming back to my favorite place, Homecroft Elementary. I am currently in my 8th year of teaching.

Goals you have for your students: Every year I tell my kids that if the only thing I have taught them is academics, then I’m not doing my best. My goal is to present content in a way that is engaging and creative so that my students want to learn. My goal is to also get my students to believe that they have the power to make a difference in their community and people around them. I want my students to see a need in others, and have the desire to help as much as they can.

Favorite band or Musician: Jason Mraz

What is something your students might be surprised to learn about you? When I played soccer at Perry, my coach would call me Klutzy-Cleary (maiden name) because I would fall all the time. I have always been one to try and make others laugh also. So, at practice one time, I purposely tripped myself as a joke and end up dislocating my shoulder when I hit the ground! In class, I often say to my 5th graders, “maturity is knowing the right time to goof around and the right time to focus.” I guess I should’ve taken my own advice!

If you were trapped on a deserted island, what are three items you would want to have with you? I would want to have a ferro rod to start fires, the Bible, and a hatchet. My husband watches a lot of survival shows so I’ve gotten some pointers.

Name one person – Living or Dead –Who would you like to invite to dinner? Oh how I miss my dear sweet Grandma Wanda’s raspy, sassy voice. I would love more my meal with her so she could meet my sweet daughters, Nora and Josie, and my amazing husband, John.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up? I wanted to be a teacher!