Kindergarten paraeducator at Millcreek Elementary

"When I was a little girl, I was very apprehensive about going to school. That is why I want kindergarteners to know they are in a safe environment at Millcreek. I want them to know that I care and am committed to the FCPS mission to educate all students.

"I spend my day teaching our students in all areas of our instructional program, but my students also teach me about compassion, understanding and forgiveness. I try to take into consideration the needs of the whole child and therefore strive to make our instructional day as interesting and as relevant as possible. However, the best part of my job is simply seeing the kids grow academically and physically.

"At Millcreek we are fortunate to have a widely diverse population, and that diversity makes our school an interesting place to be. One of the varied activities in which I have been involved this year is Girls on the Run, which helps develop relationships through athletics. It has been both successful and rewarding. In addition, I have served as a classified-employee representative on our CHAMPs program implementation team, which helps to foster relationships between the kids and the Millcreek staff.

"I really believe that I have one of the best jobs in the world. Children are so full of potential, and with the right kind of nurturing, they will blossom!"