How My Journey Began

Growing Up

Learning Through My Own Struggles

As a student, I rarely found school fun. School was HARD!

I struggled throughout my education, often spending twice as much time as my peers just to earn average grades. There were plenty of tears and moments when I wondered why I had to work so much harder than everyone else.

Looking back, I am still amazed by how I kept going. I didn’t always understand why learning was so difficult for me, but somehow, I continued to persevere. Little by little, I made progress.

When it was time to choose a career, I knew I wanted to help students who struggled just as I had.

My own experiences have shaped the teacher I became. When a student tells me that something is too hard, that they don’t understand, or that they feel frustrated, I can relate to those feelings. I can look them in the eyes and honestly say, “I understand. I’ve been there.”

 

I know what it feels like to work hard and still struggle. I also know how important it is to have someone who believes in you, recognizes your progress, and helps you find a way forward.

That understanding became one of the most meaningful parts of my work as a special education teacher. It also continues to influence the resources I create today.

 

The Dreaded Covid: When Life Changed

In the fall of 2021, my family and I were all diagnosed with COVID at the same time. Fortunately, our initial cases were mild. We even continued teaching and attending classes over Zoom while quarantining.

Unfortunately, just three days after I returned to school, I woke up with extremely sore legs. At first, I was told that the symptoms could last up to 12 weeks. Instead, I was diagnosed with Long COVID, which brought persistent muscle soreness and pain that dramatically changed my life.

Before Long COVID, I was active. I worked out three to five days a week and had even completed a half-marathon just a few years earlier. Suddenly, activities I had once taken for granted became difficult. I needed frequent rest, began attending physical therapy, and sometimes needed a cane when going to events.

It was a tremendous adjustment. I had to rethink what I could do, how I spent my time, and what moving forward would look like.

Although I continued teaching for a time, it wasn’t easy. I learned firsthand that perseverance doesn’t always mean pushing harder. Sometimes, it means adapting, accepting your limitations, and finding a different way to move forward.

I never would have chosen this path, but it taught me even more about the challenges people face when their lives change unexpectedly.

Finding a New Purpose: The Teacher Support Hub 

After my Long COVID diagnosis, I spent much more time at home resting. As someone who has always enjoyed reading and staying busy, I knew I needed something meaningful to occupy my mind and time.

After a few months, I began exploring a new project: creating a Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Over the years, I had created countless resources to meet the individual needs of my students. With more than 20 years of experience as a special education teacher and certification as a Wilson Reading System specialist, I had developed activities, visual supports, graphic organizers, and hands-on materials to help students access learning in ways that worked for them.

I had seen how the right resource could make a difference. Sometimes, a student simply needed a visual, a different way to practice a skill, or an activity that made learning feel more manageable.

I realized that these resources might help other teachers, too. That idea became The Teacher Support Hub.

 

What began as a way to keep my mind engaged and share the materials I had created has grown into a project that allows me to continue supporting educators, parents, and students in a different way.

Today, I focus on creating practical educational resources, especially reading and special education materials, that help teachers meet the diverse needs of their students.

Moving Forward: A Different Kind of Journey

I still wish Long COVID had never become part of my story. It has changed so much about my daily life, and I continue to navigate its challenges.

However, I have also found new ways to use my experience, creativity, and teaching background to help others.

My journey has reminded me that life doesn’t always follow the plan we imagined. Sometimes, we have to adjust our expectations, discover new possibilities, and find purpose in unexpected places.

Whether you are a teacher looking for a resource, a parent searching for ways to support your child, or an educator trying to meet a student’s unique learning needs, I hope you find something helpful here.

I would also love to hear from you! If there is a resource you need, a classroom challenge you are trying to solve, or an idea you would like to share, please feel free to contact me or complete my resource suggestion form.