Age: 25

Pronouns: She/Her

Primary Gig: Math Teacher

On the Side: Religious School Teacher

How long have you lived in Indianapolis? Born and raised

Describe yourself in 100 words or less: I am currently a 7th grade math teacher at Brownsburg Middle School West! I was raised in Indianapolis, attended college at the University of Florida, and moved to San Antonio, TX, to serve with City Year AmeriCorps. I moved back to Indianapolis to serve with Teach For America and just completed the program this spring, earning my Master's in Teaching! During the weekends I work at Beth El teaching 6th grade religious school!

How do you give back? I believe that the most critical way to invest in the future of a community is by working with youth. There is nothing more powerful than the strength of young people and I love working with students and watching them thrive in discovering their identities and passions! Additionally, I spent this past year working with Beth El Zedek Sisterhood to create the 100th anniversary quilt, celebrating a century of Jewish women in Indianapolis. Reading and writing the names of those who have given so much to the Jewish community was a powerful testament to how strong our community is and how far we've come.

Celebrity Doppleganger: Selena Gomez

Who is a Jew who inspires you? My mom

How do you envision the Indianapolis Jewish community in the next 10 years? Getting to know middle school students in religious school, I have tremendous faith in the future of the Jewish community in Indianapolis. The bonds between them remind me of myself and my friends when we were younger, looking forward to Sundays as a chance to get together with our (self-named) “Jew Crew.” I hope this community stays as firm as in my youth, and I love watching a new generation of leaders come into their own.

What is one thing you look forward to as we come out of this Pandemic? I can't wait to start traveling regularly again! With the pandemic, it became very difficult to get together with my friends from college and AmeriCorps that were located all over the country. I look forward to reunions happening soon!

What is your proudest accomplishment in the past 10 years? At the end of my year of service with AmeriCorps in Texas, I was voted the Most Valuable Corps Member by my peers. I knew that I had worked incredibly hard during this time and poured my soul into the work, but as the year ended, I was worried about my family in Indiana and my students whose education had been abruptly halted a few months prior due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the midst of my uncertainty, being recognized for my work was an incredibly emotional moment for me that helped me feel confident in my choice to become a teacher.

Any advice for younger professionals? Don't be afraid to hear "no." I always tell my students -- it's better to raise your hand and say the wrong answer than to never raise your hand at all.

Anything else we should know about you? I'm a big reality TV fan! Survivor is my favorite!