Background Information:
I have been a teacher in Bridgewater-Raritan since 2002. I love teaching and learning!
I grew up in Milford, Delaware. After high school, I moved to Madison, NJ with my twin sister, to attend college at Fairleigh Dickinson; we liked the state so much that we both decided to stay after graduation.
After teaching for a couple of years, I met my husband while chaperoning a Student Council charity dance right here at BRMS. Bill’s mom was a foods and sewing teacher before she retired. She encouraged him to come to the dance so we could meet, even though Bill isn't a teacher. A few years later, we were married. I still have the candy wrapper from the Hershey Bar that was given at the end of the dance. I keep the wrapper in my writer's notebook.
I have two daughters. I love spending time with them! We enjoy going on walks, reading stories, and making messes together in the kitchen. Rehoboth Beach and Disney World are our favorite places to vacation. We live in Bridgewater. We have a dog named Duncan, and a cat named Kitty Whittles/Buttercup. Their pictures are below.
Maybe you will meet my identical twin sister, Dr. Messano, at BRHS where she teaches in the English department.
Educational Information:
My major in college was English Language and Literature with a concentration in Creative Writing. In 2002, I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree from the Fairleigh Dickinson honors program. While I was an undergraduate, I had an opportunity to study writing and theatre at Wroxton College in England. In 2002, I also received my first Master’s degree in Secondary Education from FDU. In 2008, I earned a Master’s in Public Policy and Educational Leadership from Seton Hall University. In 2013, I earned a Doctorate in Literacy Education from Rutgers University.
Professional Information:
In 2014, I was honored to be selected as the Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School teacher of the year, and in 2015, the Somerset County Teacher of the Year as well as a New Jersey State Teacher of Year Finalist for 2016. I was also selected as the National Council of Teachers of English Outstanding Middle Grades Teacher for 2016.
In addition to being a dedicated middle school literacy teacher, I have worked as a teacher consultant for the National Writing Project at Rutgers University where I collaborate with colleagues across the state to enhance my teaching and help provide professional development in writing instruction for fellow teachers. For a few years, I also served as a member of the NWP tech team which focused on helping teachers effectively integrate technology into reading and writing instruction. I also teach a graduate course on teaching middle school literacy for Rutgers GSE, and I have presented multiple times at national literacy conferences across the country.
I am a member of the National Council of Teachers of English, the National Association for Middle-Level Educators, and the International Literacy Association as well as a member of Sigma Tau Delta, a national English honor society, and Kappa Delta Pi, an honor society for teachers.