“When a flower doesn’t bloom you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower”
- Alexander Den Heijer
Born and raised in Western Wisconsin, I grew up in a small town and attended the local schools. I knew from Kindergarten that I wanted to be a teacher.
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and began my teaching career. I have been blessed with the opportunities to teach Community-Based 4K, Early Childhood Special Education, Head Start, and Cross-Categorical/EBD K-5th Grade. I have also supported the self-contained EBD program when needed. During these positions, I was able to be a part of amazing educational teams and programs that greatly supported our local community and families. I gained experience in home visiting and team coaching, working with parents in their homes and communities to meet their children’s IEP goals. I have also taught parenting classes, such as Positive Solutions, and outreach for District Community 4K staff. I have training in Zones of Regulation, Pyramid Model Innovations, Parent Coaching, Character Strong, and Ages & Stages Questionnaire. In addition, I have years of experience working with the Wisconsin Early Autism Project within family homes. Over the last 20 years, I have tutored, volunteered in schools and with community partners, and supported families in a variety of settings.
I believe in play-based learning. I respect children’s need to be active and engage in the world around them. My experience and practice have supported these beliefs and guide me to best support others with evidence-based practices. I love to learn! I am always looking for continuing education, reading, and researching developmental supports. I stay current on best practices and development research so that you don’t have to.
I took time away from the field after my son was born prematurely in 2020. I have stayed home with him since. As I still maintain positive relationships with past families, community members, and co-workers, I began to get personal referrals from time to time to support parents in need. Eventually, my husband and I decided that we could take the leap and support my career in parent education. Our family and friends have helped to create this amazing dream come true, and I am so thankful to share resources with my community!
I believe that all parents do the best they can with the tools they have. That said, who doesn’t want more tools?! Who doesn’t want to grow as a person and as a parent? Especially when it’s the most important “job” one will ever have.
About Me
My Philosophy
Alexander Den Heijer was speaking of plants in his quote at the top of this page, but it has moved something within me. I believe it applies to people as well.
As parents and caregivers, it is our role to create an environment that cultivates regulation & growth. It begins with you. When another person displays a non-preferred behavior, I believe we should question their perspective and why they reacted that way.
This questioning will lead us down a new path that allows us to think intentionally about our own words and actions, thus questioning why they responded the way they did. As a Special Education Teacher in public schools for ten years, I often reflected on how I was or was not supporting my students. I never thought there was something wrong with them, nor was there anything wrong with me, but my actions and words did not always yield the results I wanted to see. I needed to change something. I cannot change the child. I can change the choices I make. We work to provide an environment that makes our children feel safe, cared for, and accepted. A place where they know they can feel all the feels, have full autonomy, and be respected.
Once we feel safe, cared for, and accepted, we will all bloom.
Interested in learning more?
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