After graduating college, Dr.O immediately started her career as a first grade teacher in St. Louis, Missouri. This was the start to an eleven year adventure that consisted of teaching, coaching, and developing curriculum with both elementary and middle school students. Dr. O received her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Communication Arts and an emphasis in Child and Youth Care at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. In addition, she has earned her M.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and her Doctorate of Education from Maryville University. This year, she is an Academic Instructional Coach at the Academy of Entrepreneurship Studies Middle (AESM), a choice school in SLPS. Dr.O works with teachers to ensure high-quality teaching and learning throughout the schools in a variety of ways:

• Engage in informal, reflective coaching cycles with teachers
• Visit classrooms informally using the SLPS "Focused Instructional Learning Walk" framework
• Deliver professional development and training related to teaching and learning
• Facilitate school-level Leadership Team meetings with department chairs and administration
• Assist teachers in analyzing student achievement data
• Collaborate with teachers to plan and implement student interventions
• Support teacher learning in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)