Ever since I was a child I envisioned myself as an educator. My first school experience was in Trinidad at a small village school. We had no plumbing, we sat on long wooden benches, and used chalk and writing tablets. My teacher, who I called teacher, would stand in front of the class and teach us reading, writing and arithmetic. She was firm, yet kind, and I wanted to just like her. I didn’t even mind the occasional licks on the palm with the ruler because I knew that one day I would be the one in front of the class. My dream of becoming an educator never wavered. I went to school and became certified as an early childhood educator, but as life unfolded I soon learned that early childhood would not be my final destination as an educator. As I grew, I followed my parents example. They were good, kind, people who believed in sacrificing for their family and always giving back to the community that we were a part on. They pushed me to live up to this standard of living and also to go further then that did by completing high-school and college, which neither of them had the opportunity to do. I pride myself on being a good example for my children as well as my students that I have the honor of teaching every day. I believe my passion for special education began with my family, which consists of two college-aged children, one of whom has Cerebral Palsy, along with a high schooler, and a middle schooler who has an IEP for Executive Functioning. As a mother of 4, two of which have disabilities, my passion to become a teacher of children with disabilities has multiplied. I love working in a general education classroom. Out of a group of 15 students I have 5 on IEPs and 3 ELLs. I pride myself on creating engaging lessons that provide the appropriate scaffolding to meet the needs of my students while maintaining rigor and meeting the standards. I have learned that teaching can be all consuming, but it is worth the time and dedication required to meet the needs of my students. I feel this way because this is the mindset that I want my children’s teachers to have as they navigate through their educational journeys. I have been a dedicated 4th grade teacher for three years, specializing in a general education setting for all children, including children with disabilities and ELLs. My teaching philosophy revolves around my passion for providing an equitable, quality education and support to all, ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed today and in the future.