It's nice to meet you! I always knew I wanted to help people for a living. I've been involved in community service since I became a Camp Fire Girl in third grade.  ​ In sixth grade, I got my first pen pal, a girl named Sharon who lived in Australia. I still remember how exciting it was to receive those whisper-thin light blue air mail envelopes edged in red, white and blue. I knew then that I wanted to see the world, and learn as much as I could about other places and people.  ​ In high school, I volunteered as a counselor for Outdoor Ed, our local school's week-long camp in the woods for 5th graders. I knew then that I wanted to work with kids.  ​ After a brief stint as an associate director for Sylvan Learning Centers, I became a 4th grade teacher.  Then I met a 6th grade teacher who also loved teaching and traveling and we got married and ran off to China for three years.  I learned so much about the world, but also about myself and what was possible for my life.  ​  I spent 10 years as a classroom teacher and math specialist before pausing my career to raise a family. While at home with my daughters, I tutored kids of all ages. Although I enjoyed all subjects, I became especially drawn to math. More than any other subject, math was a major struggle for a lot of kids and their parents. A few bad experiences with math growing up can lead to a lifelong aversion.  ​ I remembered my own experiences with math. Growing up, I enjoyed math and was always in the advanced math class. I knew that I was good at math. In high school however, math stopped being fun and engaging to me. So I stopped taking math as soon as I met the graduation requirements. In college, I was amused to discover that because I hadn't taken calculus in high school, I would need to "catch up." So I enrolled in remedial calculus, or "calc for poets," as it was affectionately called. Everyone liked our professor and I thought he did a good job explaining a complicated topic. As he taught, he often made side comments about how we would never need most of this because we were English majors, and not "math people." By the end of the semester, I was questioning my own math ability. It took me a while to connect this to his comments, but when I did, I was stunned that 12 years of seeing myself as a math person could be undone in just a few months. Words are so powerful! Fast forward to just a few years ago, when I was shocked to learn that I officially have ADHD.  I thought I understood what ADHD was all about because of the many kids with ADHD I'd had in my classes over the years. But really, I had no idea what it's like to live with it. I understand so much better how frustrating it can feel to try so hard and still fall short. I know what it's like to be misunderstood and labeled unfairly as lazy or "unmotivated." I've spent the last  ​ Finally, several years back our family went through some pretty significant struggles with mental health. As any mom would do, I did a LOT of research. While we did receive good care from several practitioners, it took YEARS of digging and advocating just to identify and eventually obtain the treatment that finally helped. It was agonizing to watch my child suffer, knowing that I did not have the knowledge or skills to help.  ​ Once my kids got older, I realized how much I missed teaching and making a difference. I loved tutoring, but I've found especially with math, tutoring is often just a bandaid. I also heard a lot of parents tell me that they just weren't a math person so they always knew their child would probably struggle. This really hit home for me as a mom and as an educator. Math is more essential than ever in today's high tech world.  So I did a deep dive into the latest research in math education. What I found, along with my personal experience in education, filled me with hope.  The latest brain research now confirms there is no such thing as a "math person." I love helping kids (and adults!) who've struggled in the past discover that they are "math people" after all.  Whether you attend one of my in-person events or work with me one-on-one, you will come away with solutions to your toughest math problems! ​ Family Math Coaching is a culmination of months of research, years of teaching experience, and direct experience with deep personal struggle and transformation. Lasting change doesn't happen overnight, but with practice and perseverance, it's possible! Reach out whenever you are ready to learn more or get started! ​ ​