I have been the Head Upper Elementary and Middle School Teacher at DuPage Montessori School since 2009. I also enjoy working as a college instructor at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Il., where I teach courses in World Religions and World Mythologies. Mentoring students and working to build qualities of resilience and perseverance are critical elements to my teaching practice. While I do much of this work in the classroom, I also serve as our Upper El and Middle school Gym teacher, which enables me to connect physical activities to this daily work, thus engaging the whole student. I teach various skills, activities, and games in ways that demonstrate—win, lose, or draw––that persevering through difficulty is worth the effort.