Ms. Nelson's History Website

Growing up, both of my parents were in the Air Force, so we moved around a lot. When my parents retired from the military after completing 20 years of service, I was a sophomore in high school. At the time we were living in Arlington, VA, and we loved being in the DC area so much, my parents decided we should live there permanently. After graduating from high school, I went out to Bozeman, MT  to pursue a degree in History Education at Montana State University (Go Cats!). 

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After graduation, I knew I wanted to move to Washington but I needed time to get my Washington teaching certification. So I moved back home and worked for Higher Achievement, a non-profit organization that seeks to close the achievement gap in middle school students in DC public schools. My role was an Achievement Coach and small-group mentor in their After -School Academy. 

 

My first two years of teaching were spent at a rural school district outside of Spokane where I taught World History, Early US History, Civics, Psychology, and Pacific Northwest History (not all in the same year). Even though I got a lot of valuable experience at that school, small town life was not for me. I'm glad to be back in a big city and I can't wait to explore my new home! 

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Outside of teaching, I love to read, bake, watch TV, go to the theater, and try new things. I am a proud Hufflepuff and a self-described extra cat mom. Don't believe me? I threw my cat, Lua, a birthday party for her 1 year birthday last summer. You will also likely hear me talk about her shenanigans a lot during class. 

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As the child of two Air Force personnel, I know the value of hard work, determination, teamwork, and responsibility. Growing up I was exposed to not only those ideals, but also to a diverse range of cultures, lifestyles, and histories. I want to bring these same values and respect for other cultures into my classroom, allowing students to learn about their own history while developing the skills needed to be successful in today’s world. In my previous two jobs, I learned a lot about myself and the kind of teacher I want to be. In addition to strengthening my teaching practice, these experiences reinforced to me the importance of conversation and discussion. We may not always agree, but we can still learn from each other. From here, we can create understanding and respect, so we can come together to build a better world.