I hope my students understand their passions and are guided by those passions. Teaching is not for everyone, so reflecting and understanding one’s basic beliefs about children is a way to determine if teaching is the right career path.
Clinical Professor
I have taught at UGA in the early childhood (now elementary education) program for over 20 years. Prior to that, I taught in Athens public schools for 30 years, including Barrow, Gaines, and Timothy Road Elementary. I’ve taught kindergarten, first, third, and fourth grades, EIP, and served as a reading coordinator. I particularly like first grade because there is something so rewarding about helping a child learn to read. I enjoyed fourth grade just as much, because the children were more independent, and I could truly differentiate instruction to better meet their needs.
At UGA, I teach several courses, including the third block of our teacher education program (Integrated Instruction in the Elementary Classroom) and supervise students during their student teaching experience. My graduate courses vary each semester, but I often teach Classroom Organization and Management and Theory and Curriculum.
As a former classroom teacher of 30 years and now teaching at UGA for 21 years, I am passionate about young children and how to make school and learning exciting to them. My experience as a classroom teacher gives me credibility with my UGA students and helps me in guiding them through their teacher preparation.
We all learn by doing and from interactions with others. I apply this in all of my teaching.
I hope my students understand their passions and are guided by those passions. Teaching is not for everyone, so reflecting and understanding one’s basic beliefs about children is a way to determine if teaching is the right career path. I hope that all leave my classes with an understanding that children are people and should be treated as such. They deserve to have a voice and a choice in all matters.
I was inspired to teach by my mother. She, too, taught public school in Georgia for many years, received her PhD and joined the faculty at UGA. I like to think that I am following in her footsteps.
As you might have assumed, I am a native Athenian. I was born here and have lived here all my life. All of my 4 degrees are from UGA (my dad said, “why do you want to go away to college when we have one right down the street?”)
I have been married to my husband, Edward, for 38 years. We have one son, Spencer, who is 35. Spencer has been married to Jenny for 5 years and they have one son, Teddy, our first grandchild, who was born in March of 2024. He has become the center of our universe!
Both Ed and Spencer are attorneys. Ed and I love to work in our yard. We have an amazing garden and find ourselves digging and planting almost every weekend. I’m a crossword puzzle fanatic, so I spend many afternoons on my patio working puzzles! I also love to cook and enjoy cooking for my family.
I look forward to my time with students each semester. My goal is to help them on their education journey and inspire them to hold on to the passion of helping children in all of the ways necessary in order for them to become successful.