05/15/2025
Dear Students,
This is much harder than I ever thought it would be. I have spent the last 12 years teaching Family and Consumer Sciences, coaching cheer for 8 years, and advising FCCLA for 12 years in Canistota!
You were the best part of my job and also the ones that made me the craziest, but in a good way. You taught me so much, like the best dance moves, the best songs, the new slang words, and TikTok dances. I have truly enjoyed my time with you in Canistota and will always have a special place in my heart for you. You will always be my kids, no matter what!! I am always here if you need anything, and I will continue to support you as you grow and navigate life. You have taught me so much as a teacher and person, and left a lasting impact on me. I am forever grateful!! As Winnie the Pooh said, "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."
The memories I have of my students and classes will always be with me, and I have many pictures to remind me of them. The relationships I have built with each student and my coworkers bring me so much joy. What the students or parents may not know is that these students are "my" kids. Yes, I might only have them in a class for one year, or for some, they take every class I have ever offered (aka Vaeh and Domi), but no matter how long they were in my FACS class, I still consider them MY kids. I spend so much time with them and learn so much about each of them that, no matter what, they will always be my kids. Each of you is unique in your own way, and each of you puts a smile on my face or sometimes makes me "crash out" by intentionally bugging me.
I have spent many late nights working on FCCLA projects, attending basketball and football games with cheerleaders, and participating in numerous events and conferences with you, making memories that will last a lifetime. The bus rides, jamming out to music, the deep conversations about our future or our thoughts on what was happening, the jokes, the crazy stories, and the questions in class, as well as the interesting, sometimes hilarious cooking labs, have brought me so much joy over the years! I enjoy the good morning greetings I receive every day in the halls or when you stop by my classroom to say hello or just visit.
When I first moved here, I planned to stay for a year and then return home for a job I knew would be opening. However, after completing my first year teaching at CHS, I fell in love with the school and community. The school truly felt like a family; it was as if people were always supporting one another, and we had the best time together! I felt like I had found my home, and in fact, I had.
Man, does the time fly!! I still remember the day I interviewed for the position, touring the school, and meeting with Mr.
Nebelsick, it was such an exciting time. While it's exciting to start a new chapter, it's also filled with anxiety, moving to a brand new community and starting fresh. However, thanks to the Canistota community, the school, and, most of all, my students, they made me feel very welcome.
Fast forward 12 years, and while I still feel like I'm home, living in Canistota, I realized it was time for me to make a professional change and try something new. While this was terrifying, as I hate change, it also brought excitement and happiness to me.
Check out this video of the year in FACS room!!
