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After more than 36 years in education, I’ve had the opportunity to work with students and families from many different backgrounds, including nine years at St. Joseph School for the Blind and decades in elementary education. Along the way, I discovered a deep passion for helping children grow not only academically, but personally as well.

Throughout my career, I have taught gifted and talented third- and fourth-grade students with a focus on financial literacy and entrepreneurship, led an entrepreneurship club, and consistently worked to connect classroom learning to real-life success.

I was honored to be nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2020 and Service Provider of the Year in 2024, and I have consistently been rated as a highly effective educator. In 2026, I coached a student in collaboration with their family for a math game competition, resulting in the student earning recognition as the top fourth-grade student in the Newark district.

Over the years, I noticed something that continued to stand out: many students were leaving school without the financial knowledge and real-world skills needed to confidently navigate adulthood.

That realization inspired the creation of Roots2Riches.

The “2” in Roots2Riches represents my belief in impacting two generations and beyond,  helping bridge knowledge, opportunity, and financial empowerment from one generation to the next.

As an educator, certified entrepreneurship instructor, and licensed financial professional holding both securities and life insurance licenses, I wanted to create experiences that make financial literacy practical, engaging, and empowering for students and families alike.

Roots2Riches was built from my belief that education should prepare students not only academically, but financially and personally as well. My goal is to help young people and families build confidence, develop strong money habits, think entrepreneurially, and create foundations that can impact generations to come.

At its heart, Roots2Riches is about planting seeds today that can grow into opportunity, stability, and legacy tomorrow.