ABOUT ME
Allow me to introduce myself! Some call me Melissa, Missy, Miss, Mrs. S, and (my favorite), Mama. I have been an Autism teacher for the past 7 school years, a wife for the past 5 years, and a mom for the past 19 months! :)
My passion for teaching began in my childhood years when I would always beg my younger sister to play school with me. Thank you for being my very first student ever, Katie :) My desire to teach quickly shifted to Special Education as I continued to develop such a strong love for my youngest sister, Nikki. Growing up, we always knew Nikki was special. She communicated primarily through her actions and eye gaze, but would occasionally say “eee” if she was hungry. One of her favorite words to this day is “bye bye” and she would spend all day in the car if she could. :) Nikki is the sweetest, most lovable young lady who has taught me countless life lessons. I wouldn't be half the teacher I am today if it wasn't for her.
In 2015, I graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education as a Learning Behavior Specialist. From there, I began my teaching career with Grundy County Special Education Cooperative in Illinois. My first year of teaching, I taught in an Early Childhood Autism Classroom in which my students were between the ages of 3 and 5 years old. I became very familiar with utilizing PECS, visual schedules, and VB-MAPP teaching tools. Teaching this age group was so fun for me because I was able to learn an incredible amount about behavior and functional communication, all of which I was able to apply in my future classrooms.
The next school year, I transitioned to a 2nd through 4th Grade Autism Classroom for the Grundy County Special Education Cooperative for my second year of teaching. This classroom experience allowed me to be introduced to and fluent in the Zones of Regulation and the Social Thinking Curriculum. During this school year, my classroom structure was heavily focused on social skills and problem solving skills. I really enjoyed teaching in this classroom because it exposed me to a completely new and different perspective on teaching and learning in the Autism world.
Days after we tied the knot in July of 2017, my husband and I relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona. My teaching career continued in the Social Communication Academics (SCA-aka Autism) Kindergarten-5th classroom at Cochise Elementary School. This is where I completed my first staff-wide training (on the Zones of Regulation), became a mentor teacher for students attending Arizona State University for Elementary Education, and taught with such a wonderfully inclusive school & staff for the next 5 years. This was the classroom where I applied everything I had learned my first 2 years of teaching, and continued to transform my classroom into my dream Autism classroom.
The summer before I graduated from Illinois State, I worked as a paraprofessional in an Early Childhood Autism Classroom for the Grundy County Special Education Cooperative. What I didn’t know was I would actually have some of the same students the next year in my classroom for my first year of teaching! I also taught at a summer reading and math camp for the Grundy County Special Education Cooperative for 2 summers. Over summer break, both in college and as a teacher, I tutored students in my community in reading, writing, and math. All of these opportunities were such great learning experiences for me which helped me shape who I am as a teacher.
Although I have had all of these wonderful experiences in the education world, I am at a point in my life where I want to have a new outlook on teaching. More importantly, I want to be at home with my daughter! As a 7 year Special Education Teacher transitioning to a stay-at-home mom, I am overjoyed just thinking about the precious moments I will have with my daughter and family at home the next couple of years. However, the passion I have for teaching doesn't just disappear overnight. While I am going to adore each second I spend with my family, I am not quite ready to leave the teaching world of "Mrs. S" behind.
My goal is to create a platform for fellow educators, parents, and guardians to have access to me (and the personal & professional experiences) and resources I have to offer. Services offered are: ready-to-teach visual curriculum, 1-on-1 online and in-person tutoring, educational consultation, in-home behavioral support consultation, and at-home support for individuals with special needs.
What I really look forward to doing is having the opportunity to offer my support and knowledge to families who are looking for them. Coming from a family with a sister with special needs, I know exactly how difficult it is to find services at home. Having the opportunity to offer in-home support for those in search of it, while being able to stay at home with my daughter, is like a dream come true!