I always knew I wanted to work with kids in some way or another. As it turns out, that way was working with them right here at Fruitport Middle School where I once roamed the halls as a student myself!

As John Elliot says, "History shows us that people who end up changing the world are always nuts, until they are right, and then they are geniuses."  History is always changing and being created simultaneously. Learning about history allows us to have conversations about the world. We are challenged to talk about how people change, how they stay the same, ideas of right and wrong, intent, and the intended and unintended consequences of behaviors. These discussions help us grow as individuals and also as a community of people.

I recently moved from Charlotte, NC where I taught 7th, 8th, and 9th grade math since 2008. This will be my first year at Fruitport and I am excited for what this year will bring!  One of the best things about teaching for me, is that every year will bring new and exciting adventures.  I get to learn the personalities of my students and how I can help them reach their potential.  A quote that has stuck with me since my middle school days is from Dr. Seuss, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” 

Helping others has always been important to me.  My hope is that my students know I care about their learning and well-being.  I have been teaching at Fruitport Middle School for many years and currently teach seventh and eighth grade science.  I have had the privilege of teaching sixth, seventh and eighth graders.  I earned my Bachelor of Science in Group Science (with a mathematics emphasis) from Grand Valley State University.

I really enjoy working with people, and I love my students because I know that I can help guide them and teach them about math and life.

My favorite quote is from Dr. Seuess, " Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."

I am incredibly fortunate to teach at Fruitport because the district offers the perfect combination of expansive learning opportunities with a close-knit community feel.  

I began my teaching experience here at Fruitport Community Schools in January of 2003 teaching kindergarten at Shettler Elementary. From the fall of 2003 to present I have been teaching 5th grade at Beach Elementary. I have also been part of our district technology committee since 2009.

I love working at Fruitport Middle School as an Instructional Assistant.  It is a joy to work with the kids and the awesome staff.

I love sharing my passion for science and seeing students learn through hands-on experiences. I want my students to feel like they belong, that they can be successful, and to be curious about the world around them.

As stated by Nelson Mandela, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Fostering a passion for learning combined with meaningful relationships with students is my mission as an educator. My students truly bring so much joy into my everyday life!

"The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics." Paul Hamos.  I love sharing my passion for math with students and I want to give all students a chance to discover their inner mathematician.  I want my students to learn that every person is capable of being a mathematician if they are willing to try. 

Profile coming soon...

I love getting to know each student’s personality and strengths as I help them develop healthy habits and better themselves physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. I want every student I meet to know they are important, supported, and valued as a human being no matter who they are or where they come from.  I earned my degree from CMU (Fire Up Chips!) in Health and Physical Education and now I teach at FHS/FMS and I coach volleyball and softball here at Fruitport! I love to travel, go to the beach, attend concerts, and spend time with my family, friends, and my dog!! 

I have enjoyed watching students come in and their journey to learning how to read and the excitement when they can read a whole book on their own and their choosing of a Genre that they enjoy.

Music education, to me, is a great way to help students find something that they can enjoy, learn dedication and perseverance from, and be a part of a community that is supportive and fun.  Music is something people can have their whole lives, whether it is as a profession or as extra-curricular enjoyment.

I have been teaching a Fruitport Middle school for more than 20 years. I began as a special education teacher and then moved into the area of physical education. I am also the Fruitport High School Cross-Country and Girls High School Track Coach.

 I am beyond excited to start my career at Fruitport Middle School as Principal.  I believe all students can learn and achieve desired goals.  I am excited to work with this amazing staff and students at Fruitport Middle School. 

As a School Psychologist, I aim to build positive and supportive connections with students. I always strive to be a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on. 

I enjoy every second of my day from meeting students in groups, presenting in classrooms, talking one-on-one, or just chatting in the hallways.  My hope is to instill a sense of self worth and pride in each student that comes through my door.

My favorite aspect of teaching is building connections with many different students. Every student has a different story and one of my favorite things to do is learn about everyone's story. Also, every day is different from the previous one. I try to let my students know that each morning is a new opportunity to have a great day. Watching a student work hard, persevere, and reach their goals is the most rewarding part of my job.

Math, science, and social studies are important courses that our students need for our society to function.  Art, poetry, design, love, beauty, and music are what our souls live for.

No day, hour, class, or student is the same. Every day in the classroom brings its own unique joys and surprises. I feel lucky to be a part of the Fruitport family and to be able to help shape the minds of the future! I strive to create a welcoming environment that also challenges students to be the best they can be. I look forward to the adventure that this year will bring! 

Building positive relationships with students and the community are my favorite parts about being in the education field.

Profile coming soon...

Hello! I am the middle and high school choir director and am so excited to share my love and passion for music with the Fruitport community. Students are loved and cared for in the choir classroom and gain an appreciation for music, as well as music literacy and vocal technique skills. 

My favorite thing about teaching and my educational philosophy is to make connections with my students.  I strongly believe that positive relationships in the classroom is the key to having a successful learning environment.  My goal each school year is to make that positive connection with each and everyone of my students to foster their education.  

Technology is always changing and students need to be prepared to change with it. Efficiency is important, just because you are using technology does not mean you are working efficiently. Our classroom explores a lot of different programs and often discusses different and more efficient ways to use technology to get a task done.  I love teaching students the topic of technology, it is always changing and always fun!

Bio Coming Soon...

My time growing up was spent enjoying numerous outdoor activities in West Michigan (such as boating, fishing, camping, hiking, soccer, beach volleyball) and traveling the country with my family through various modes (car, RV, boat, train, airplane). These experiences fed a curiosity about life and love of experiencing and learning new things that has continued into adulthood.  While I still enjoy all of those activities of my youth, I am often drawn to new ventures such as teaching myself to play the keyboard and dabbling in photography.

Psychology, social work, families, and education have always been my passions. As a Psychology and Family Studies major at Cornerstone University, I never knew exactly how my passions would come together in the future, but I knew that somehow they would.  

I am honored and excited to serve as the Fruitport Middle School Assistant Principal. As a child, I had some amazing teachers and coaches who pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to be more than I thought I was capable of. The way my teachers & coaches believed in me inspired me to pursue a career in education. I now work daily to support, motivate, and inspire those I work with to achieve anything they set their minds to!!

I hope that I can give students a safe and supportive place to learn and grow as individuals. Middle school is a great time in a student's life, as they are so impressionable. Science is a wonderful way for students to use their past, present and future experiences to create solutions. Science can integrate their knowledge of all subjects and apply them to real world problems.

I enjoy the newness that each day brings as a teacher.  There is not one day similar to the next, which makes my job super interesting!

I believe that every person has the right and ability to learn, and it is a teachers duty to find and polish their students' passion to do so. This viewpoint is applied within my classroom at Fruitport Middle School, as students learn about the world around them through experimentation and application of content. I look forward to guiding my students in their journey investigating the natural world around us. 

I am so grateful to have found a wonderful home at Fruitport Community Schools! I have been working in education for 18 years now, and I love being able to help/assist students anyway I can!

Most of my free time and enjoyment is focused on family and friends. I also love to travel when time allows. I am continuing to broaden my learning through the diverse traveling experiences that I’ve shared with my husband.  These experiences have broadened my cultural awareness and have given me a greater appreciation for my educational career path.  My passion remains in helping support students who have academic and behavioral needs within the classroom setting.

I graduated from Grand Valley State University with a B.A. in Special Education and Psychology. I have endorsements in both cognitive impairments and learning disabilities. I am a member of the Council for Exceptional Children and am blessed to be working in the same community in which I live.

Math has been my favorite subject since elementary school. I wanted to teach it to others so that they can understand and love the subject like I do. 

Early in life I knew I wanted to pursue a career in education and I can honestly say that I have never regretted that decision. Each day is unique and provides me the opportunity to have students engage in a variety of activities and learn more about the world around them.

I have taught 8th grade and currently am teaching 7th language arts.  I really enjoy my job and my students continue to amaze me with each day being new.  I graduated from CMU with a bachelor's degree and from GVSU with a Master's degree in educational leadership