I am an elementary school special education teacher from Miami, FL. I have been in the field of special education for my entire career, which began more than 20 years ago in Moscow, Russia. I have a B.S. in Special Education and Applied Psychology from Moscow State Pedagogical University and an M.S. in Special Education from Florida International University. 

My current role involves serving as a support facilitator and consultative teacher across all elementary levels. In addition, I have taken on responsibilities as the ESE department chairperson, a Dyslexia liaison, and an LEA for my school.

Since I started teaching students with special needs, my biggest passion has been helping them grow and reach their potential. Not too long ago, the best tools in our classrooms were chalk and a chalkboard. Luckily, things have changed dramatically since then, and today’s students have access to technology we never could have imagined back then.

In today’s fast-moving world, technology has become a vital part of how we teach and how kids learn. From my own classroom experiences, I have seen how powerful it can be - especially for students with special needs. Because of this, I felt inspired to keep learning and took the next step in my career by pursuing an Educational Specialist degree in Instructional Technology, Media, and Design. I aspire to support other teachers, make classrooms more engaging, and give students the kinds of learning experiences that really connect with them. While completing the required coursework, I have built the skills I needed to design personalized and highly engaging lessons. Furthermore, I feel better prepared to manage technology that makes learning exciting, interactive, and accessible for all kids - helping them build the skills they’ll need for the future.