Hello, Families! My name is Ms. Michelle, and I am thrilled to be part of the JAM Teaching and Consulting team. I currently teach middle school special education in Evanston.

I was raised in St. Charles, Illinois, about 45 minutes from Chicago. My educational journey began at Iowa State University, where I majored in elementary and special education. Intrigued by working in special education and learning more about IEPs, I received an additional position as my school building's IEP team leader.

My professional experience includes working as a case manager, writing IEPs/facilitating meetings, and working with students in general education and self-contained settings. This experience led me to a deep passion for ensuring all students get the education they need to succeed. I'm exceptionally skilled in supporting students with specific learning disabilities, such as Dyslexia and Autism.

Outside the classroom, I love to spend time with animals, and I am my apartment building's go-to pet sitter and dog walker! I currently have a four year old Maine Coone cat and a six year old free roam rabbit (yes, she is potty trained, too!).

A guiding quote encapsulating my teaching philosophy is, "You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. It may be necessary to encounter the defeated, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, and how you can still come out of it." —Maya Angelou This underscores my commitment to teaching as I recognize that every child is unique in their learning needs. It may take trial and error and different strategies and approaches, but with determination, all students can learn.

At JAM, I'm excited to apply my versatile teaching strategies to support the whole child academically, emotionally, and socially. I am committed to building strong relationships with families and becoming a valuable resource in your child's educational journey. I can't wait to learn together and meet you!