Hello, I teach 7th grade Language Arts at Howard Middle School where I have been an educator for the last twenty-four years.  Born in Florida and raised in Ocala, I have lived primarily in Ocala with the exception of my time in Gainesville and one year teaching in DeKalb, Illinois. My family consists of my husband Robert, son Scottie, my parents (who live nearby), and my pets. I love to read and write, and I hope that one day my novels will be published; for now, I will have to be satisfied with my short story called "A Miracle Called Faith," in the 2004 edition of Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul series.  For my students, I hold high standards both academically and behaviorally, in person and online.  Besides preparing students academically for the next level, I also connect learning in class to the real world via projects and hands-on applications.  Welcome to 7th grade ELA!