Hi There! My name is Ms. Allison, and I am currently a second-grade teacher in the suburbs.  I grew up in the northern suburb of Gurnee. I moved to Lake View East at the beginning of this summer. However, I have enjoyed spending time in the city my whole life. I graduated with my bachelor's in elementary education from Illinois State University and received a reading endorsement. During my time at Illinois State, I completed many clinical hours with students of all ages, and I also student-taught in a 5th-grade classroom for an entire year. Since graduating, I have been a first and second grade teacher. I teach in a 2nd grade Dual Language program where I teach my students English Language Arts and Social Studies in English, and my partner teaches Math and Science in Spanish. I am working on my master's degree in Learning Sciences and an endorsement in ESL from National Louis University. I have previous experience tutoring both 1st and 5th grade students. I have enjoyed working with children since a young age. My passion flourished when I became a camp counselor during high school. I spent seven summers at Banner Day Camp in the suburbs, learning a lot about children and how to help them grow. I feel lucky to be able to work in a profession that I am genuinely passionate about. When not working, I love spending time with my family and friends and walking on the lakefront.

The forefront of my teaching philosophy is working to understand each student. By creating relationships with students, they can learn and grow more effectively. I need to create an environment where students' social and emotional needs are met. I like to ensure that students I work with feel safe to ask questions, make mistakes, and try again. As an early elementary teacher, I work to help students use a growth mindset and make sure they know they can achieve their goals. I am excited to work with JAM Teaching and Consulting and be connected to students to help them succeed.