All About Ms. Drake
A Little About My Life
While I love my job, I love other things, too! I find pleasure in travel, exploring the wilderness, cooking and baking, exercising, making music, writing, reading, and art. I prefer the mountains to the beach. I'm currently on a mission to visit all of the State Parks of North Carolina. I always want to improve my 5K time though running is my least favorite exercise. I love to sing, even though I'm not very good. I sing karaoke a lot with my mom and dad. I also enjoy participating in drum circles. My dad has been a drummer my entire life, so I like to think that I was born with some sense of rhythm. There's nothing like feeling the vibrations of dozens of percussion instruments while you sway to the beat. I write all the time! I write stories and poetry, and I journal daily. One day I'd love to publish a book of personal essays--I think it'd be a humorous book. I prefer reading biographies and realistic fiction, though sometimes I can get wrapped up in fantasy. I love to paint, scrapbook, ZenTangle, do calligraphy and fancy lettering, and I love mixed media collages. I feel like I could probably be a really great furniture maker, too, but I haven't had the opportunity to test that theory out yet. There's no space for a workshop in my apartment.
I'm getting married in October of this year, and I'm very excited. My fiance, Jon, and I have two cats named Freydis and Lily. They are gray, and while they are sisters, they are complete opposites! I also have a dog named Molly. She lives with my brother in Greenville. She's a white Schnoodle. I gave her to my brother two years ago because I didn't feel like I was at home enough to give her the attention she deserves. I still stay in touch with her though, and I give her all of my love whenever I have a chance! Mostly, I just want to continue to grow and learn ways to be a better, healthier person all-around. I think being at Green Hope is a great place to work towards my goals.
UPDATE: 10 days after my wedding, my husband got a call for a job offer in Washington State. He officially moved to a beautiful town called Enumclaw, Washington on December 7. While I'll miss him greatly, I'm going to finish up the school year here at Green Hope, and then I will begin a new adventure on the other side of the United States. I'm nervous, scared, and very, very excited. Hopefully, I'll get an opportunity to take all of the wonderful experiences I've had as a teacher in North Carolina and share them with the children of Enumclaw. I'm sure they'll teach me a lot more there, too!
I'm getting married in October of this year, and I'm very excited. My fiance, Jon, and I have two cats named Freydis and Lily. They are gray, and while they are sisters, they are complete opposites! I also have a dog named Molly. She lives with my brother in Greenville. She's a white Schnoodle. I gave her to my brother two years ago because I didn't feel like I was at home enough to give her the attention she deserves. I still stay in touch with her though, and I give her all of my love whenever I have a chance! Mostly, I just want to continue to grow and learn ways to be a better, healthier person all-around. I think being at Green Hope is a great place to work towards my goals.
UPDATE: 10 days after my wedding, my husband got a call for a job offer in Washington State. He officially moved to a beautiful town called Enumclaw, Washington on December 7. While I'll miss him greatly, I'm going to finish up the school year here at Green Hope, and then I will begin a new adventure on the other side of the United States. I'm nervous, scared, and very, very excited. Hopefully, I'll get an opportunity to take all of the wonderful experiences I've had as a teacher in North Carolina and share them with the children of Enumclaw. I'm sure they'll teach me a lot more there, too!
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
-John Quincy Adams
-John Quincy Adams
My Teaching Philosophy: Inspire Kids to Create!
I believe it is my job to foster a love of learning in as many children as possible. While I am bound by the rules that govern my position, I believe that all children have gifts and talents, and it is up to everyone to help each child recognize and maximize their specialties. I try to do my part to achieve this goal by creating a nurturing and engaging environment where the students I work with are given opportunities to set their own goals and define their own expectations. I assist students in determining priorities and setting short and long-term personal goals, so that they can reach their potential with minimal stress. I develop unit plans in alignment with the NC Standard Course of Study while allowing flexibility for student inquiries that may take their understanding beyond the level prescribed by Common Core guidelines.
When I model expectations for students, I do so at a base level, so as not to limit student creativity when they are developing their own plan of action. Students are encouraged to think outside of the box, investigate, predict, ask questions, and push themselves. They are expected to show they can work both collaboratively and independently with a positive attitude. They are expected to be respectful towards themselves and others, to participate, and to do the best they can with the time they have.
This year, I am focusing on the social and emotional development of our gifted students. I will be incorporating this focus into each unit plan in hopes of helping students become more aware of themselves and mindful of their feelings, motivations, and interactions with others. Hopefully, this will empower them to advocate for themselves and recognize that while being gifted is something to be proud of, it can also present challenges that must be dealt with in order to achieve their greatest dreams.
When I model expectations for students, I do so at a base level, so as not to limit student creativity when they are developing their own plan of action. Students are encouraged to think outside of the box, investigate, predict, ask questions, and push themselves. They are expected to show they can work both collaboratively and independently with a positive attitude. They are expected to be respectful towards themselves and others, to participate, and to do the best they can with the time they have.
This year, I am focusing on the social and emotional development of our gifted students. I will be incorporating this focus into each unit plan in hopes of helping students become more aware of themselves and mindful of their feelings, motivations, and interactions with others. Hopefully, this will empower them to advocate for themselves and recognize that while being gifted is something to be proud of, it can also present challenges that must be dealt with in order to achieve their greatest dreams.
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
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My Education Background (My Journey across N.C.)
- I attended elementary school in Wake County at Zebulon Elementary School and Douglas Elementary School.
- I attended middle school at Zebulon Middle School before moving to Clayton Middle School in Johnston County as a 7th grade student.
- I graduated from Clayton High School in Clayton, NC in May of 2000.
- I graduated from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC in May of 2004 with a degree in English Education. I planned on teaching high school English. That has yet to happen.
- I worked at Southwest Middle School in Gastonia, NC from 2004-2007 where I taught 7th grade AIG and Inclusion Language Arts and was the Yearbook Staff advisor. I received my AIG licensure from UNC-Charlotte.
- I worked at Northwoods Park Middle School, an IB school in Jacksonville, NC, from 2007-2010 where I taught 7th and 8th Grade AIG and Inclusion Language Arts. I was the Yearbook Staff advisor, and experienced my first year as an Odyssey of the Mind Coach.
- I became part of the Green Hope Elementary School family in 2010, and have been proud to serve as GHE's Odyssey of the Mind Coordinator, Spelling Bee Coordinator, School Improvement Team Chair, and 5th Grade representative of the Intervention Alignment Team.
