Occupation: Fifth Grade Teacher and Spell Bowl Coach
School: Isom Elementary School in Greenwood, IN
College: Franklin College (Class of 2011)
Degree: Elementary Education with an Endorsement to Teach Middle School Social Studies
Previous Experience: I spent a year as an instructional assistant in Clark Pleasant Schools. I worked with students from kindergarten to fourth grade as an instructional assistant. I then spent three years at Northeast Elementary. I taught second grade my first year, fourth grade my second year, and third grade my third year. Last year was my first year at Isom Elementary. I taught fifth grade.
Hometown: Taylorsville, IN (Graduated from Columbus East High School in 2007) Family: I'm an only child, and I am very close to my parents, Jeffrey and Melissa Kirk. They are my role models. I am also close to my grandparents, Larry Kirk, Carol Kirk, Denny Ayers, and Bonnie Ayers. I admire all of them as well. I have two cats named Edward and Noel. Edward came to my family after the death of my cat, Sebastian. Noel found me. He was thrown out of a moving vehicle just a few days before Christmas in 2012. I took him home, and he has been part of my family ever since.
Why I Became a Teacher: I became a teacher because I like working with students, and I like talking and learning from students. My students teach me as much as I teach them. I like those moments when I see a student smile. I love those moments when a student starts to understand something for the first time. When students start to form questions and want to know more about something taught in the classroom, it makes me so happy. I like teaching because it is fun and rewarding!
Favorite Movies:The Goonies, Lilo and Stitch, The Little Mermaid, Big Hero 6, The Wizard of Oz, The Harry Potter Movies, The Lord of the Rings Movies, and All Marvel Movies (Love the Captain America Movies and The Avengers Movies)
Favorite Movie Characters: Peggy Carter from the Captain America Movies, Stitch, Sebastian from The Little Mermaid, and Chunk from The Goonies
Favorite TV Shows: Marvel's Agents of Shield, Arrow, The Flash, Modern Family, Friends, and The Big Bang Theory
Favorite TV Characters: Leo Fitz (Agents of Shield), Felicity Smoak (Arrow), and Cisco Ramon and Caitlin Snow (The Flash)
Favorite Actors: Iain De Caestecker (My Absolute Favorite Actor), Steven Yeun, and Chris Pratt
Favorite Actresses: Emily Bett Rickards, Lauren Cohen, and Ming Na Wen
Favorite Supeheroes: Black Widow, Hawkeye, Star Lord, Quake, Captain America, the Green Arrow, and the Black Canary
Favorite Song: "Saturn" By Sleeping At Last
Favorite Band: The Beatles (I love "In My Life")
Favorite Animals: Cats, Gorillas, Penguins, Bulldogs, and Squirrels
Favorite Baseball Team: Cincinnati Reds
Favorite Football Teams: Indianapolis Colts and Columbus East High School Olympians
Favorite Basketball Teams: Indiana Fever, Indiana Pacers, and Indiana University Hoosiers
Favorite Books:Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (My Absolute Favorite), All the Rest of the Harry Potter Books, Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief, The Diary of Anne Frank, Night, Pride and Prejudice, The Entire Shadow Children Series (Especially Among the Hidden), Wonder, The Hobbit, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books, Looking for Alaska, and The Hunger Games Series (Especially Catching Fire)
Favorite Authors: J.K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, Jane Austen, Elie Wiesel, and John Green
Favorite Harry Potter Characters: Dobby, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Ron Weasley, Fred Weasley, and George Weasley
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw (According to Pottermore)
Favorite Foods: Mashed Potatoes, Pizza, and Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Favorite Colors: Purple, Emerald Green, and Royal Blue
Favorite Holidays and Seasons: My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because it is the only holiday in which all sides of my family gather together. My mother hosts the event. I get to see all of my grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles on this day. My favorite season is fall. I love the changing color of the leaves, and I love going to fall festivals like the Ethnic Expo and Hope Heritage Days.
Favorite Places to Shop: Half Price Books, Barnes and Noble, and Torrid
Favorite Places to Eat: TGI Friday's and Wendy's
Favorite School Subject: Social Studies (Love American History) and Math (Especially Fractions)
Things I Collect: Pop Funko Figurines (Especially Harry Potter Characters), Troll Dolls, Russian Nesting Dolls, and Signed Copies of Books
Role Models: My Parents and Grandparents, Elie Wiesel, Anne Frank, Alice Paul, John Lewis, Thurgood Marshall, and Ryan White Places I Want To Go: Scotland, Japan, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida, London, England, Australia, The Great Wall of China, Robin Island in South Africa, and Cairo, Egypt
Bucket List: Climb a Mountain, Fly in a Hot Air Balloon, Sky Dive, Stand in Time's Square During the New Year's Eve Celebration, Help Build a School in Another Country, See Hamilton on Broadway, and Travel to Every Continent on Earth