Hello, I'm Autumn.

I live in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and I am working toward an A.A. in Liberal Arts at Bay Mills Community College while I raise my children and support students during the school day. My path into education has not been a straight line, and I think that is exactly what makes me want to teach.

How I got here

I started out as a Certified Medical Assistant, then spent time as a behavior technician for children with autism, and later as a caregiver for adults with disabilities. Each of those roles taught me something I now bring into education — patience, calm under pressure, and how much a person can grow when someone believes in them. Today I work as a virtual speech therapy aide for Sault Area Middle School, supporting students during their online sessions. Watching students light up when they feel understood is what confirmed I am in the right field.

What shapes me as a teacher

As a mother and college student, I understand how deeply cultural background and life experiences shape a child's needs. I know what it feels like to be the person balancing school, work, and family at the same time. That perspective keeps me humble and keeps me listening — to my students, to their families, and to the pieces of a story that do not always show up on paper.

Relationships come first

Before I teach a skill, I get to know the student. I learn what makes them laugh, what makes them shut down, and what makes them light up. Those small details are what eventually help a student trust me enough to try something hard. Meaningful relationships are not a nice extra — they are the foundation everything else stands on.

Meeting students where they are

Every student I have worked with — in speech therapy, in ABA, in caregiving — has brought a different profile of strengths, challenges, and communication styles. I plan with that reality in mind. I lean on visuals, repetition, positive reinforcement, sensory-aware supports, and clear routines so that students with a wide range of needs can access learning in ways that make sense to them.

Partnering with families

I treat families as the experts on their own children. As a mom, I know how much it matters when a teacher actually listens. I communicate often, keep things honest, and treat the home-school relationship as a real partnership.

Different, not less. Limitless, not fixed.